Harley Balic with Michael Walters after Fremantle's win against the Bulldogs in 2017.

Fremantle leader Alex Pearce said the hearts of he and his teammates are broken at the news of the passing of former teammate Harley Balic.

Balic and Pearce were teammates at Fremantle between 2016 and 2017, with Balic playing four games and kicking three goals in 2017.

He was also a Peel Thunder premiership player in 2016.

Fourteen players on Fremantle's AFL list were teammates with Balic during his time at the Club in Pearce, Griffin Logue, Sean Darcy, Nat Fyfe, Michael Walters, Luke Ryan, Nathan Wilson, Connor Blakely, Ethan Hughes, David Mundy, Darcy Tucker, Matt Taberner, Joel Hamling and Brennan Cox.

He said the players’ thoughts were with the family and friends of Balic, who passed away at 25.

“It hasn’t been easy…I think for the Club in general – for us that played with Harley and ex-teammates that I’ve spoken to,” Pearce said.

“He was such a great kid, Harley, and such a fun person to be around, such an infectious smile and our heart breaks for his family back in Melbourne.

“Our thoughts are with them.”

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