Richmond Senior Club Advisor Neil Balme is attracting interest from โother clubsโ in the AFL, according to Caroline Wilson.
Wilson said on Channel 9โs Footy Classified last night that Balmeโs role at the Tigers has been cut back.
"Because of COVID, Neil Balme now finds himself marginalised."
Caroline Wilson says Neil Balme, the game's 'Mr Fix It', could find himself at a new club next year, and there's one that would be a perfect fit.#9FootyClassified | Watch @channel9 pic.twitter.com/PsogI1u7Oh
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) August 26, 2020
Balmeโs position is now up in the air, with Tim Livingstone and Blair Hartley taking more senior roles at the Tigers.
โHeโs left the football department and Tim Livingstone and Blair Hartley are now co-bosses of that football department, with Livingstone in the (Queensland) hub,โ Wilson said.
โIโve been critical of some of the off-field issues that Richmond has faced and feel that Neil Balme there might have been the steadying hand that could have helped both Tim Livingstone and Damien Hardwick.
โI just find it interesting that some clubs are bolstering their footy staff and asking for special permission. Richmond are not.โ
Balme wonโt be sent to the Queensland hub on September 1, as CEO Brendon Gale will be returning.
Adelaide are interested in Balme to assist coach Matthew Nicks and inexperience head of footy Adam Kelly.
โBecause of COVID, Neil Balme now finds himself marginalised and I know that there at talks at other clubs where they just wonder whether he might go there,โ Wilson continued.
โThe Adelaide Football Club is one where Neil Balmeโs name has come up in dispatches.
โNeil Balme has a job and a contract at Richmond next year. It wonโt be inside footy to the degree that it was.
โHeโs been Mr Fix-It at several football clubs with big, big results and I wonder whether (for) Matthew Nicks, he might be the perfect person."
AFL journalist Sam McClure discussed Balme's future on SEN SA Breakfast this morning.
โI think any club would welcome Balmey with open arms given his record,โ he said.
โParticularly with Matthew Nicks. He doesnโt have a lot of support around him. I know that theyโve just brought in a new head of footy who is relatively inexperienced in
โHeโs just been on the outer at Richmond this year as they try to bring up the younger guys of Livingstone and Hartley through their footy ops.
SAM McCLURE: If Adelaide is looking for more support for its coach then Neil Balme would be a good fit.
— SEN SA 1629 (@1629senSA) August 26, 2020
Balme has achieved great success in key roles at Geelong and Collingwood and helped Richmond in their recent premiership success.
