What Balta’s return means for RichmondBy Louis Van Dam
SEN
26 July 2025Rebuilding teams aren’t meant to have these kinds of selection headaches, but here we are, with Noah Balta becoming available once again for Richmond with his curfew restriction now completely lifted.
The question around Tigerland has been if Balta should walk straight back into the best 22 or bide his time with exceptional VFL form to earn back his position. His recent form and touch have been below his usual standard.
Since the return of Tylar Young, who doesn’t look like he’s missed a beat after his ACL injury last year, it seems as though Richmond have finally found a backline mix that works to complement each other admirably.
It would be careless for Adem Yze to change the backline around as it is in its current form.
Both key defenders - Young and Ben Miller - have looked completely settled down back and are in great form of late. To try and forcefully fit Balta could perhaps be unsettling.
In the rebuilding side's last two wins - over Essendon and West Coast - Young is averaging 16 disposals at an extremely efficient 97%, tallying 13 one percenters, 15 intercept possessions, nine intercept marks, and winning eight out of his 10 contested defensive one on ones so far.
Miller is currently 12th in the league for spoils and has produced some quality defensive displays in 2025, including holding Coleman Medallist Jesse Hogan goalless.
There is also Nick Vlastuin and Nathan Broad so the four tall-to-medium defensive group appears in good order.
So, if Balta is clearly a best 22 player but can’t fit into the backline, does he get swung back into a key forward role?
During 2022 under Damien Hardwick, and more recently at the beginning of 2024 we saw Yze confidently play Balta as a secondary tall forward to Tom Lynch.
Lynch is currently sidelined due to suspension while Mykelti Lefau is also out of action with a calf injury.
Balta has slotted multiple goals on eight occasions when spending the majority of time as a forward. So could Yze revert back to that tactic?
With current full-forward Jacob Koschitzke seemingly struggling at the top level, goalless in the two wins, does this open a spot up for Balta to prove himself as an effective spearhead for the Tigers?
What better opportunity now with Lynch still serving his suspension, to reawaken Balta as a forward to mix his athleticism and elite marking ability with purposeful leadership for the young cubs.
Another possibility for Balta could be on the wing, potentially reprising the role of Matthew Richardson where he almost won the Brownlow in 2008.
Yze could look to utilise Balta’s athleticism, speed and powerful kicking prowess more effectively while acting as a marking target through the middle of the ground. That could also open up the forward line for the youth in Jonty Faull, Tom Sims and Harry Armstrong to get games under their belts as a trio.
The club extended Balta’s contract until 2032, so must experiment with him to find where he best fits and is most effective as they’ve clearly identified him as a player of very high importance to the club’s future.
It will be intriguing to see where he spends most of his time in Sunday's clash with Collingwood at the MCG.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2025/07/26/what-baltas-return-means-for-richmond
