AFL world in shock over ex-Docker's death

Former Fremantle and Melbourne midfielder Harley Balic has died, aged 25.

Balic, who was drafted by the Dockers with Pick 38 successful the 2015 nationalist draught and played 4 games for the nine successful 2 seasons, passed distant connected Sunday morning.

READ MORE: Public sentiment 'shifting successful favour' of Novak Djokovic

READ MORE: Mark Taylor's subordinate ratings from the 4th Ashes Test 

A study for the coroner volition beryllium prepared and the decease is not being treated arsenic suspicious, according to police.

After starting his vocation with Fremantle, Balic was past traded to the Demons for Pick 65 successful the 2017 commercialized period.

Harley Balic of the Dockers celebrates his archetypal AFL extremity with teammates during the 2017 AFL circular 04 lucifer betwixt the Melbourne Demons and the Fremantle Dockers astatine the Melbourne Cricket Ground connected April 15, 2017 successful Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images) (Getty)

He announced his abrupt status citing his deficiency of passionateness to play the game, aft 1 twelvemonth connected Melbourne's list.

When announcing his AFL status successful August 2018, Balic said it was "an casual determination successful the end".

"It's thing I'm not going to regret and I'm precise appreciative to Melbourne for letting maine travel to the nine for a 2nd chance," Balic said.

"I've ever loved football, but my heart's not successful it and everything ends up being a grind and I deliberation it's conscionable the close happening to do.

"The (club's) VFL and AFL (teams) are some going to beryllium palmy this twelvemonth and it's thing I'd emotion to beryllium a portion of, if I loved it, but unluckily I don't and it's clip to spell retired into the existent satellite and spot what other is retired determination for me."

Former teammate Harley Bennell, who was astatine the Dockers during Balic's 2 seasons with the club, posted a connection to societal media paying his respects to the erstwhile AFL subordinate on with a photograph of Balic and erstwhile Docker Shane Yarran, who passed distant successful April 2018, with the caption: "Rest casual my 2 brothers."

He besides posted different representation that included him and Balic, on with the caption: "RIP my small HB … I'll ever emotion you small brother."

f you request assistance successful a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or MensLine Australia on 1300 78 99 78.

For a regular dose of the champion of the breaking quality and exclusive contented from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!

Where are they now: Looking backmost astatine each AFL No.1 draught prime since 2000