sport news Harley Balic: Father of footy star who was found dead during his drug addiction ... trends now
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The shattered father of former footy star Harley Balic has blamed the AFL's controversial policies on illicit drug use for his son's tragic death.
Balic was just 25 when he died in a Melbourne hotel room in January 2022, falling victim to his ongoing drug addiction.
During his three-year playing career with the Fremantle Dockers and Melbourne Demons, Balic was placed into the AFL's 'medical model', under which players are not penalised for testing positive to illicit drugs.
It comes as a Sport Integrity Australia investigation has commenced into the league's controversial illicit drugs policy.
'I believe that the AFL has a duty of care to formally intervene early into young vulnerable players who have been identified as having substance abuse issues,' Balic's father Eddie told News Corp.
The shattered father of former footy star Harley Balic (pictured) has revealed why he blames the AFL for his son's tragic death
Balic (pictured right) was just 25 when he died in a Melbourne hotel room in January of 2022, falling victim to his ongoing drug addiction
'I also feel that had better support been put in place early for my son, it may have prevented this tragic outcome.
'The huge disappointment is that the AFL knew a lot and as a family we weren't
