Injuries prevented Halbert from playing in Sturt's 1967 and 1968 premiership sides, and he was forced to retire.
In 1979 he became coach of Glenelg, leading them to the 1981 and 1982 SANFL Grand Finals where they were beaten by Port Adelaide and Norwood respectively.
He left The Bay after the '82 Grand Final and replaced the legendary coach of Sturt, Jack Oatey in 1983.
Halbert would lead the Double Blues to his third Grand Final appearance in three years but again luck was against him when Sturt were defeated by West Adelaide.
After the Double Blues could win only eight matches in 1984 and finished seventh, Halbert was replaced as coach by Mervyn Keane.