After moving across Asia numerous times as a child, witnessing a civil war, facing rejection during his youth career, completing a double degree, and being a treble winner, it’s safe to say Max Balard has gained much experience and learned a lot of lessons at just 23 years of age. The former Mariner is now embarking on a new journey in the Netherlands and is hopeful it will help him wear the green and gold of the Socceroos one day.
Max Balard in action for his new Dutch club NAC Breda. (Image: Pro Sports)
One of the Central Coast Mariners’ key players in their recent success, which included becoming the first professional side to win a treble in Australian football history, was Max Balard. The 23-year-old from Sydney, born to French parents, was integral to recent success in Gosford. But success is earned from hard work and perseverance. Balard’s life, both on and off the field, has reminded him to keep going even when the going gets tough, and that sacrifices must be made to progress in life.
Balard’s first instance of witnessing despair was during his time in Sri Lanka, as his family was based in the South Asian country due to work opportunities. Although he was a child and most memories are vague, there are some instances that he vividly remembers during a bloody civil war that lasted twenty-six years.
“Thankfully, I was pretty safe where I was,” Balard told Front Page Football about his time in Sri Lanka.
“It was a crazy time; of course, it was a good opportunity for my dad’s work because he was involved in the cement industry. Sri Lanka was a country developing quickly, and they were building a lot, so I was there with him.
“There was a bus around a kilometre away that just randomly blew up; there was a bomb on the bus. One of the nights, my dad was away for a conference, and it was just me and my mum in Sri Lanka. The lights in the apartment block all shut down, and things similar to fireworks started happening. I shouted to my mum that they were fireworks, but the [opposition] actually shut down the whole city so dark they could shoot blindly against [their enemies].
"It was a crazy experience, at the same time, I have plenty of good memories playing football over there as well.”
Although his father was a rugby union player, it was football that Balard wanted to pursue a career in. Despite recent success, his career hasn’t always been laced with success. At a young age, he was overlooked by NPL NSW side Manly United and, at one point, thought his football career would not live up to the dreams he wanted it to.
However, he took it with both hands when an opportunity came to play for NSW club Hakoah Sydney City East. Despite being content at the club, when the opportunity came to sign for the Central Coast Mariners in 2019, even for their NPL academy side, it was an offer Balard couldn't refuse.
Balard in action for the Central Coast Mariners' NPL academy side. (Image: Max Balard Instagram)
“For me, it was about the opportunity to play in an A-League set-up,” Balard said about joining the Mariners.
“My goal was to always play professionally, and I really enjoyed my time at Hakoah. I’m thankful for the coaching staff, especially Mark Gannon and Jason Conroy at the time. They gave me an opportunity after it didn’t work for me at Manly United. I was thankful for them.
“[The decision to join the Mariners] was one you take without even thinking. To be in an A-League set-up, especially at a club that wasn’t doing well at the time. I continued following my dream, and I think the club not doing well helped me in my situation as I was eventually able to go through the academy and get my opportunity at a professional level.
"You have to make sacrifices along the way because I used to live in Sydney, so I woke up at 4:45 am and travelled up with a few of the boys that lived in Sydney as well and got up [to Terrigal] for training before 7 am. You [make] these types of sacrifices to achieve your goals.”
During his time in Gosford, Balard rose from the academy to establish himself at the club. Even during long hours of studying and commuting up the M1, he sacrificed and balanced his time. Eventually, Balard made his professional A-League Men’s debut in the 2020/21 season. But his breakout season at the club was in 2021/22 when he featured in more than 20 matches for the Mariners.
As each season passed, the situation got better and better for Balard as he received more minutes under Scottish manager Nick Montgomery; his presence in the midfield helped the club win silverware after the Mariners spent previous seasons in the complete doldrums. The 2022/23 season saw Balard and his Mariners teammates end a 10-year championship drought as they recorded a 6-1 victory over Melbourne City in the 2023 A-League Men Grand Final.
“I’m really thankful for the opportunity to meet Monty and Sergio (Raimundo),” Balard said when discussing the Mariners coaching staff.
“We had experience together during our success in the NPL 2, but unfortunately, it was during one of the seasons affected by COVID, so we couldn’t get promoted. I got told back then that all we needed was to keep the players, and we would win the A-League Grand Final. We’re still in contact as they’re currently at Tottenham Hotspur working in the Premier League with Ange Postecoglou. Monty and Sergio are humble people and are willing to chat with me, so I really appreciate them.”
The Central Coast Mariners are known across the competition as being one of the strongest community clubs, even across other national sporting codes. Their community spirit has been visible, and they have engaged with the fans and local community sponsors, becoming a club for the people of Gosford. One example is the numerous squad photos the club does with its fans after a win. Bonding moments like those help build the club and motivate the playing group.
“It’s something we strive for,” Balard added about the community aspect of the Mariners.
“We know we are the only professional team in the region, and we know we have to tap into the region to get as many supporters as we can watching us. When you’re a close-knit community, you’re also close with your teammates. When you have a good group of players helping the community, you know the supporters will help you.
"This family club approach that the Mariners have created needs to continue as it’s something very special, and it’s the basis of the foundations of the club.”
After Montgomery left to take up an opportunity at Scottish club Hibernian, English manager Mark Jackson took over. Although the Mariners were winless across their opening four matches of the 2023/24 season, it later proved to be a tiny bump on the way to success, as they eventually became the first team in Australian football history to win the A-League Men's Premiership, Championship, and a continental trophy—the AFC Cup—all in one season.
The appointment of Jackson, a foreign manager with little to no previous experience in Australian football, looked like a gamble at first. But Balard enjoyed working with him during his time at the club.
“He’s a great manager; he’s really good with all the boys,” Balard said.
“Mark tries to support everyone when he can; he’s very honest and will tell you straight to your face if there is something he wants you to do or in areas you can do better. His assistant as well, Danny Schofield, is a top assistant and knows the game very well. Those two together work very well.
"I would say the tactics were mainly done by Danny, and the man management and sense of family is done by Mark Jackson, he was a top coach. Their style really complemented my game.
"It was a special season with them. Looking back, it felt like we were almost destined to win all the trophies. We were just doing our jobs, and I don’t think it has really settled in yet for me because I’m still in my career and have big ambitions for the future; it feels like another step on the journey. A lot of people have told me you don’t realise how special it is what you have achieved. I don’t know how many players can say they were part of a treble-winning side.
“I don’t know if I will be part of another treble-winning side again, fighting for three trophies in one season, but of course, it’s my goal to achieve that. I would do everything I can to help my team fight for three trophies.”
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Balard played every match during the Mariners’ AFC Cup run and travelled to many Asian countries, such as Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Kyrgyzstan, and Oman. The cup run took Balard and his Mariners teammates to places none would have imagined visiting beforehand. The Mariners faced tough opposition during their continental success, such as Indian Super League side Odisha, Macarthur FC in a one-leg playoff, and Al Ahed in the Final to battle for one of Asian football’s biggest prizes.
The success that Balard encountered during the AFC Cup run will remain with him forever. Looking back, it provided him with eye-opening experiences that might not have been offered elsewhere.
“I had never heard of Kyrgyzstan before playing there,” Balard said about the AFC Cup journey.
“I have to say, Abdysh-Ata Kant were the best team we played against in the whole competition. They were an exceptional team; arguably, they could have beaten us, especially at their home. They were the better side; we thankfully got a draw at their place. They were definitely a side I was very surprised with, and they were by far the best team we faced in the tournament, and they had a lot of quality players.
“Just being around Asia, despite not having the best schedule to train and recover as best as possible, was an amazing experience. It helped gel the group together and even laugh through tough times such as travelling 14 hours, staying extra in Kyrgyzstan, or spending 24 hours in South Korea before flying back to Australia. We made the most of the tough times, and it made us closer as a playing group.
“We made it to the Final, and after playing the first half, I felt it was definitely possible to win the Cup. We had all the qualities to win the AFC Cup, and I’m really thankful we managed to do it. It was a very special moment for everyone in the team.”
In July 2024, Balard left the Central Coast to pursue an overseas opportunity and signed for Eredivisie side NAC Breda. Like so many of his former teammates, Balard is one of many ex-Mariners who have been rewarded by their consistent performances in Gosford with moves abroad, such as Jacob Farrell to Portsmouth, Sammy Silvera to Middlesborough, Nectarios Triantis to Sunderland, and Josh Nisbet to Ross County.
The Mariners have established themselves across the A-League Men’s competition as a destination club for young Australian footballers to develop and gain experience at a professional level in Australia before the possibility of moving abroad. Balard is another example of shining at the Mariners before an overseas move, and he was also happy to see his former teammates take a deserved next step in their careers.
“After seeing Kye Rowles move to Hearts, it gave me hope that it is possible to go overseas,” Balard said.
“You see other boys leave like Lewis Miller, Sammy Silvera; the list is endless. It’s honestly one of the best clubs to achieve your goal of going to Europe. I’m sure there is plenty more to come. It’s very special, and when you dream together as teammates to play in the A-League and then move together overseas to other destinations, it’s a great feeling to see your friends succeed as well."
While former Mariners have ended up in the United Kingdom, Balard went a different route and signed for Dutch side NAC Breda. Last season, the club played in the second tier of Dutch football but won promotion through the playoff system. For Balard, the offer to play in the top tier of Europe was too good to turn down, and he has taken the opportunity with both hands.
“From an outside perspective, it looks like a great level. You have fantastic sides here in Ajax Amsterdam, PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord, and all these other clubs who have a big history not only in the Netherlands but also in Europe. I knew it was going to be a great league to play in," Balard said about Dutch football.
"I know if I can establish myself here, I can keep progressing my career. When I got the call that NAC Breda were interested, you do your research and see that other Australians have been there, such as Graham Arnold. It’s great to see other Australians come through in the past at Breda.
“I had a good conversation with the coach, who gave me the confidence to see me as a valuable player in the team. To be able to play 90 minutes regularly has been one of my goals, and so far, it’s been really good, but I need to keep pushing harder. We’ve only played four games, we’ve already had our ups and downs so far; we just need to keep level-headed.
“I have to say, the first few days here were pretty different for me,” Balard added when asked about arriving and training in Holland.
“I had to adjust to the level and the intensity these boys play. In Australia, you might be able to take two touches and turn and pass easily, but here, if you have a poor first touch, forget chasing the ball because you’re already going to get tackled. Most of the time, you don’t even have time to take a second touch. It’s definitely been a lot quicker.
“I feel like I have improved a lot since I’ve been here because you’re forced to improve. You do a lot more scanning. In terms of physically, it’s not too dissimilar to the A-League, but you have to make sure you have quality on the ball. You have to make sure to make the most of your time on the ball. It’s definitely a challenge, especially at the start, but I feel like my teammates have been great and helped me settle in well. I’m really thankful I have a good bunch of boys around me who have helped me settle in well.”
Since moving to the Netherlands to begin his new football journey, Balard has not only started in every Eredivisie match for Breda but has played every minute for his new club in a successful transition. On matchday two of the 2024/25 Eredivisie season, Balard featured and played the full 90 minutes for Breda in a memorable 2-1 win over Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam. The Australian midfielder still gets shivers when reflecting on the victory.
“I get goosebumps just thinking about it,” he said.
“The stadium was packed. I think it was 17 years that we hadn’t beaten Ajax or something like that. To beat Ajax at home in front of our fans was something super special. Of course, you see players that you’ve been watching videos about, such as Berghuis, Bergwijn, Henderson - who was on the bench - Brobbey, who I used to watch his highlights when he was at their academy because I thought, this is my age and [look at] how these Ajax academy players are doing compared to me.
“I played against the players I was watching YouTube videos on. It was very special. I got a bit scared when we conceded, and it was 1-1, because I thought we had worked so hard to get ahead, but it was special to win the game 2-1 against Ajax, one of the biggest names in Europe. It definitely gives you a lot of confidence that you are able to beat anyone. There are still plenty of other big teams to play against, and I’m really looking forward to that.”
Despite being a consistent starter and hardworking midfielder for the most successful A-League Men’s club in recent years, Balard still has not received a call-up to represent Australia at both a youth or senior level. However, the goal of representing the Socceroos and donning the green and gold is something the NAC Breda midfielder dreams of.
“It’s definitely a goal,” Balard said about representing the Socceroos one day.
“Unfortunately, I’ve never been involved in any Australia set-up before, and it’s probably not the smoothest pathway to represent the Socceroos, but it’s something I dream of, and it would be super special. I think it definitely helps being in the Eredivisie to get a bit more exposure to the international environment.
"If I keep performing at this level and continue to progress and work harder, then hopefully my time will come; at this point in time, I just need to focus [on] working hard and continue to learn from the players I play against so I can reach the next level. If an opportunity comes at an international level, I would love it.”
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