Noah Balta - Sign 7 Yesr Contract Extension [merged]

[Willy]

Way better than Astbury on current form.

He gets to contests that Dave simply couldn’t.

No disrespect to Dave who is a solid soldier but Noah looks like Rance 2.0.

[Simonator]

Can Balta and astbury co exist ? I know Rance and astbury could but Balta isn't quite there yet. Interesting selection problems coming up soon.

[Diocletian]

I'd imagine Broad or more likely Markov will come out for Astbury before Balta does...

[georgies31]

Why can't they both play  together it's ideal having 2 big fullbacks Dave the stopper and Balta the Rance type.

[camboon]

I remember when big forwards would monster us before Dave came on, you would have to pick him if he is fit

[Willy]

Yep fair enough. Maybe they can co-exist.

Hard to say we are really  missing Dave right now though.

[Tigeritis™©®]

I reckon he could play wing, ruck and up forward 

Developing really well. There’s no ceiling for this kid.

[Andyy]

Broad will not be dropped for Astbury or anyone really. That spot has his named carved into it.

Astbury, Balta, Grimes, Broad, Vlas and Baker. Grimes and Broad can play tall or small. Works for me!

[Diocletian]

Better than Rance was at same age...Rance wasn't playing games like that at AFL level when he was 20...hell he was barely doing it at VFL level....(though to be fair, he was playing in a lot worse sides than Balta currently is)...

[Tiger Khosh]

Broad will not be dropped for Astbury or anyone really. That spot has his named carved into it.

Astbury, Balta, Grimes, Broad, Vlas and Baker. Grimes and Broad can play tall or small. Works for me!

Add in short and eggy (Houli when he returns) and that’s 8 players rotating through the defence. Think us and most teams generally play 7 so I’m not sure all those you named will get in the 22. Vlas would come in for markov when he returns but I think someone will have to be dropped/repositioned when astbury is fit.

[eliminator]

Best game for the club. His decision making was very good.

[big tone]

Great game last night- but I still get nervous when he gets the footy.

Trending in the right direction and that is why I wouldn’t move him from this position for a long time.

This kid needs to keep things simple and learn the game at AFL level before being chopped and changed every other week.

I know he is athletic but he can still show that in defence.

[wayne]

Better than Rance was at same age...Rance wasn't playing games like that at AFL level when he was 20...hell he was barely doing it at VFL level....(though to be fair, he was playing in a lot worse sides than Balta currently is)...

Rance wasn't really a great mark until later in his career, Balta has a good set of mitts

[Diocletian]

Generally keeps his feet a lot better than Rance did back then too ...which  admittedly wouldn't be too hard....

[one-eyed]

Leppa said he hasn't had to do as much 1-on-1 work with Balta compared to Rance. Having said that he praised Ryan Ferguson for the development of our young tall defenders.