Noah Balta [merged]

[one-eyed]

Garry Lyon, Jonathan Brown and Nick Riewoldt on 'On the Couch' last night discussing Noah Balta's move to the forward line.

Click pic to watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGaP1fpvBU0

[one-eyed]

https://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/1079896/round-1-balta-has-instant-impact-up-forward-with-two-goals

What did we all think of Balta's game and Dimma using him as a 'swingman'?

Started in defence before being moved forward after half time and kicked 2 goals.

10 disposals (8k, 2h, 4c, 6u, 60% eff.)
5 marks (1 contested)
1 tackle
1 inside 50
3 intercepts
177 metres gained
2 score involvements
2 goals
1 free for
86% time on ground

[Simonator]

Not bad. Dropped a crucial mark at full back.
Dare say he will play fwd now with Jack’s thumb going bad.

[Andyy]

Play him forward and leave him there.

If any of Tarrant, Grimes or Gibcus get hurt or tired just play Miller or Biggie so we know to delist or keep them.

Balta looks good as a forward. Jack and Lynch don't.

[Tigeritis™©®]

He does what a forward should do and that is lead into space.

Lynch should take note and watch 150 years of the best forwards in history and why he should lead into space.

For some inexplicable reason he just won’t do it and wants the low percentage pack mark option. 

Mindboggling 

[the claw]

thought he was poor early. Have to play him fwd.

[WilliamPowell]

He does what a forward should do and that is lead into space.

Lynch should take note and watch 150 years of the best forwards in history and why he should lead into space.

For some inexplicable reason he just won’t do it and wants the low percentage pack mark option. 

Mindboggling 

With respect

Lynch did lead into space a lot

In the first half in particular he did and he got ignored so often my head hurt. If he wasn't being ignored then we were in happy handball or kamikazi handball mode

Even saw a few times where Lynch led and Jack bloody followed.....err that's not on Lynch that's on Jack

But just on Balta, happy for him to be the swingman. If the backs are struggling then having him available to switch back is a bonus. Ditto if you flip it and apply it to the forwards

[Andyy]

Was great.

Might keep Jack honest IMO.

His athleticism is bloody top shelf. Really breaks away and recovers so well.

[one-eyed]

Tigers could have key forward Balta'd in

Richmond's determination to play Noah Balta forward this year must have come under serious challenge with both Dylan Grimes and Nick Vlastuin missing from defence for Sunday's clash against the Giants, but Damien Hardwick held his nerve and kept the 22-year-old in the front half. Four goals and a solid win later, the coach will feel he made the right choice, and another strong game from Josh Gibcus in defence suggests Balta may be leaving the backline behind him as Richmond looks for scoring solutions for the future. The Tigers know they're having one last roll of the dice with an ageing list, but to find a key forward for the next decade already in their midst will relieve draft and trade pressure as they look to rebuild. - Howard Kimber

https://www.afl.com.au/news/725934/nine-things-we-learned-young-hawk-is-living-up-to-the-legends

[Diocletian]

Balta's leads into space better than Lynch because he's about twice as quick and twice as agile and gets about half the attention....which will start to change fairly soon I'd suggest...

[TigerLand]

This move will prove to be genius. Compounded by the fact Balta is a very good kick for goal. Can see him being more reliable in front of goal than Lynch.

[Assange Tiger 😎]

Looks similar to a young Cho at times. Kid is a freak. Honestly reckon he's a 60+ goal a year forward if he were the main man

[lamington]

Get him to 100 so we can storm the ground!

[one-eyed]

In Riewoldt's absence, powerful 22-year-old Noah Balta booted four goals in an impressive showing up forward.

"He's so multi-talented that we feel like we can play him back, play him forward. We've certainly see him play both those positions and we also feel like he's quite a capable ruckman for us as well," Riewoldt said at Thursday's National Pies launch.

"He's a great asset to have in our football club and clearly he's going to be the future of the forward line, I hope.

"There was no bigger smile in the grandstand than the one on my face watching Noah Balta go out there and ply his trade because I know he can do this sort of thing and the football club's seen it in patches.

"Last week we saw a game where he put everything together for a full four quarters which is very, very exciting."

Source: AAP

[one-eyed]

Noah Balta leaving Bailey Smith to eat dust after Cotch got the ball off him, that was beautiful to watch.

At just 22 Noah’s ceiling is very very high as the archetypal utility player who will excel in any position.

https://twitter.com/tiger_hype/status/1513281193587867648