Almanac Footy: The Melbourne Football Club – Recollections and Reflections (Part 8)

 

 The Melbourne Football Club-Recollections and Reflections (Part 8)

 

In 1996 the Demons were plagued with injuries, departures and the spectre of a merger with Hawthorn. Schwarz suffered yet another ACL injury, Kevin Dyson defected to Sydney and Todd Viney was lured to the Mark Phillipousis camp. Garry Lyon was suffering from a bulging disc in his back, Sean Charles a severe wrist injury, Stephen Tingay hip problems and Obst, Febey and Smith all under injury clouds. The club only had 34 players available for selection in Round 1.

 

After a 1 win 8 loss start to the season the year was over by the mid-way point of the season. And with merger discussions with Hawthorn well underway it was the most difficult and emotionally draining period of the club’s history. The players battled on brilliantly despite the conjecture surrounding the future of the club and their playing careers.

 

The final game of the year, ironically against the Hawks, was a classic with the Hawks prevailing by a solitary point in front of 63,196 fans to grab a spot in the finals.

 

The merger vote took place on Monday 16^th September and when proxies were counted the members had passed the vote to merge with Hawthorn. Ultimately, the Melbourne Football Club was rescued by the Hawthorn members who voted against the proposal. In many respects the Demons were saved by Don Scott.

 

After the merger vote, which later saw Joe Gutnik  installed as President, I suggested to Neil we meet him to outline our plans for the future. We traipsed into his plush offices in St Kilda Road. The meeting didn’t go that well. He was dismissive, disinterested and clearly had no understanding of the club let alone the game itself. As we walked out onto St Kilda Road I said to my good mate, “I think we are in trouble.” ” I think you’re right,” was his reply.

 

The club board had commissioned a review into the football department during September and October. As the weeks passed, I sensed I was under the pump. Board members were coy and some of the messaging by senior players gave me little confidence. Some members of the leadership group summonsed me to a coffee meeting around this time. According to these legends of the club Balmey had ‘lost’ the playing group. I was in disbelief. Injuries, departures and the merger madness had conspired against Neil and yet apparently he had lost the players. I lost much respect for the ‘so called’ leaders of the club that morning.

 

Soon after that meeting I got a ‘tip off’ from a board member that I would be receiving a call soon. And sure enough at 8am the next morning I received a call from Chief Executive Hassa Mann and was asked to meet him in his office at 10am. I knew my fate. I was given no specific reason for my dismissal, but it was clear that there had to be a scapegoat(s) for the team’s performance. The club had to be seen to be doing something. Peter Russo also lost his job.

 

I was asked to continue through to the draft to which I contemplated. I asked Hassa if I could offer my resignation ‘to pursue other career opportunities’ to keep my reputation in the industry intact. He did not respond to my request but when I got a phone call from Channel 7’s Jim Wilson an hour later asking for a comment on my sacking Hassa clearly hadn’t given much thought to my position. Typical football clubs. They do it better these days – I think.

 

I blew up. I had been a loyal servant. I wasn’t afforded the opportunity to resign with dignity. I was a scapegoat. Cameron Schwab was in the wings. Cameron Schwab was very close to the senior playing group – they wanted him back. The senior playing group had lost faith in Neil. “He’s too soft on us,” I was told by that contingent of senior players over a coffee in late September.

 

Within one-month Cameron Schwab was back at the club as Football Manager. Within six months he had replaced Hassa Mann as CEO. Neil Balme was sacked after managing just two goals against Port Adelaide in Round 9, 1997.

 

It took many years to ‘get over’ the humiliation of being publicly hung out to dry by the Melbourne Football Club. Neil felt totally betrayed. We still reflect on 1996 to this day But life goes on and you can’t continually look back in the rear vision mirror. I remained in the industry for the next 21 years heading up footy in Queensland and playing a key role in the establishment of the GWS GIANTS in Sydney – and wouldn’t have had it any other way.

 

And my old mate Neil Balme went on to become one of the most revered figures in football having a long and distinguished career in football management at Collingwood, Geelong and Richmond. It was no coincidence that all those clubs enjoyed Premiership glory whilst Neil was at the helm. He is currently a Board member of the Adelaide Crows FC and recently had his biography published.

 

Neil retired from the game after the 2024 season, having started his career as a youngster at Subiaco in 1968, played 159 games with Richmond in the VFL between 1970 to 1979 booting 229 goals and played a handful of games at Norwood whilst senior coach from 1980 to 1990. He coached 270 games at Norwood, 49 for the merged Woodville-West Torrens and 98 for Melbourne and was named All Australian coach in 1994.

 

And in 2021 the Demons finally won that elusive Premiership after a drought of 57 years.

 

 

Read more from Richard Griffiths HERE

 

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Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

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