Coburg Lions midfielder and leadership group member Jacob Ballard will call time on his VFL career this week when the team travels to Brisbane to take on the Brisbane Lions on Saturday in Burpengary.
Ballard, 28, joined Coburg at the end of the 2019 VFL season, the year he became a VFL premiership player with Richmond and this week’s game against Brisbane is his last due to a new employment opportunity which will see him move to New South Wales.
Ballard notified staff and his teammates in the week leading upto last week’s loss to Collingwood.
For the 2020 season, both Jacob Ballard and Tom Silvestro’s signings at Coburg were heralded by many as somewhat of a changing of the guard and the start of a new chapter for the club as they were also in the first group of new players with Andrew Sturgess as the club’s senior coach. Both players were sought for their leadership and “team first” qualities.
Little did anyone know that the 2020 VFL season would never happen due to the impact of the covid-19 pandemic, but even throughout that year, Ballard’s leadership and connection to his teammates and staff was evident.
In 2021, Ballard finally got to represent the club and he played seven out of ten games in that season. Lions members saw the ferocious attack on the contest that “JB” provided and the way in which he did the team things better than most. Never afraid to give constructive feedback and positive reinforcement in equal measure, behind the scenes, Ballard is a much loved character within the club because of how he is so caring as a teammate but more importantly as a person.
Ballard has played all 5 games so far in 2022 and this week will be his 6th for the season, 13th for the club and 91st and last game in the VFL.
Prior to joining Coburg, Ballard was originally a Northern Knights NAB League player and when he missed out at the 2012 draft, he joined the Northern Blues for the 2013 VFL season.
His strong form for the Northern Blues in both VFL and the Development League saw him drafted by the Fremantle Dockers where he was AFL listed in 2014 and 2015.
In 2015, Ballard made his AFL debut for the Fremantle Dockers but was delisted by the Dockers at the end of that season.
Following his delisting, Ballard joined the Richmond VFL program where he went on to be a leadership group member, VFL team of the year player in 2017 and VFL premiership player in 2019.
Jacob will be sorely missed at Coburg but will lead a legacy as outlined by coach Andrew Sturgess who said of Ballard “It’s not often people play as little footy at a club that he has yet have the impact, particularly from a culture and standards perspective, that he has. The last three years haven’t gone the way he (or anyone) would’ve liked, yet throughout the three years, he has remained committed to ensuring the growth and development of our playing list and club culture head and shoulders above his own individual needs or wants.”
“JB’s team first, club first, selfless attitude has left an impression on all of us and while he leaves a void that will be hard to replace, we are stoked for the professional opportunity he has in front of him and wish him nothing but the best for what the future holds.”
It’s a shame that Jacob’s last game won’t be in Victoria infront of the Lions faithful but you can tune in on Saturday via the livestream on the AFL’s website with the game starting at 12.35pm
Here’s to Jacob Ballard who we wish all the best to in retirement and we will always welcome back to the club when he’s back home in Melbourne.
#WeAreCoburg
