Australian Football - Gerry Balme

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Key Facts

Full name
Gerald Archibald Balme

Known as
Gerry Balme

Born
27 April 1885

Place of birth
St Kilda, VIC (3182)

Died
17 October 1955 (aged 70)

Occupation
Insurance inspector

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 17y 69d
Last game: 30y 116d

Senior clubs
St. Kilda; West Perth

Jumper numbers
St. Kilda: 3

Recruited from
St. Kilda (1907); West Perth (1915)

State of origin
VIC

Gerry Balme

Club	League	Career span	Games	Goals	Avg	Win %	AKI	AHB	AMK	BV
St. Kilda	V/AFL	1902-1906, 1915	91	2	0.02	27%	—	—	—	0
West Perth	WAFL	1907-1914	123	8	0.07	—	—	—	—	—
Total		1902-1915	214	10	0.05	—	—	—	—	—

AFL: 770th player to appear, 2,635th most games played, 7,563rd most goals kickedSt. Kilda: 164th player to appear, 154th most games played, 764th most goals kicked

‘Gerry’ Balme was generally out of sorts, out of form, and out of temper.¹

A product of Brighton Grammar School in Melbourne, Gerald Balme enjoyed an illustrious top level career in two states. He commenced with St Kilda in 1902, and in five seasons with the club established himself as a dashing and authoritative defender.

Upon moving to West Perth in 1907 he continued as a defender at first but soon developed into a first rate centreman. He captained the Cardinals for several seasons, in 1907, and again between 1910 and 1912. In 1911 he played in all four of Western Australia’s matches at the Adelaide carnival. He also played three times for league representative combinations against visiting clubs from interstate. Balme returned to Victoria in 1915, and fronted up with the Saints for one last season, taking his final tally of VFL games with the club to 91.

Author - John Devaney

Footnotes

1. “The Mirror”, 3/9/1909, page 22. Perhaps not surprisingly, Balme’s West Perth side plummeted to an embarrassing 43 point defeat at the hands of Perth. Scores were 0.12 to 8.7.

Sources

Full Points Footy's WA Football Companion, Crème de la Crème