Number 50
Height 185
Weight 81
Date of Birth 29 July 1969
Years played 1990 to 1993
Senior Games 20
Goals 46
Disposals
Recruited Bairndsale
Honours
He was a full forward who played a few good games but not too many. John Ballantyne was a left footer who could kick long distances. He was a monster kick, long and accurate. I remember him kicking 3 or 4 v Fitzroy at the Western Oval with a howling gale towards the Geelong Rd end. Most were from just in or outside the square.
He was brilliant in the reserves, kicking 10 goals in one
final. He was good on the lead and could mark in a pack. Unfortunately he never
performed consistently. In the ones and had to compete with Danny Del Re.
As pick 13 in the 1994 pre-season draft he went to Collingwood where they thought they had unleashed the next Silvagni after he did well at FB during the pre-season. He played FB and keep a sick Kernahan goalless and all Pies supporters thought they had a star, he then flopped. I think he had a bad injury.
Played quite a few games for Port Melbourne during about two and a half seasons. JB then had a crack at becoming an American football kicker. Played American Football as a punter in 1999 & 2000. He played with the Scottish Claymores in NFL Europe. He trailed with the Cleveland Browns and even played one game with the Melbourne Broncos.