Noah Balta [merged]

[ajGreen]

The more i watch him the more i think we should trade him for picks.

Explain which club would trade picks for him

Remembering the contract he has

North future 1st

[Hard Roar Tiger]

The more i watch him the more i think we should trade him for picks.

Explain which club would trade picks for him

Remembering the contract he has

And why we would trade or let go of a 5th player in the critical 24-28 yo bracket which has already created a list imbalance in our age demographic

[one-eyed]

Richmond star Noah Balta produced the best performance of what has been a disjointed season for him in the Round 20 clash with Collingwood at the MCG.

Balta had 14 disposals, with six contested possessions, took nine marks, including a game-high three contested grabs, kicked a goal, had five score involvements, a team-high seven inside-50s and 451 metres gained.

Richmond coach Adem Yze commended Balta during his post-match media conference.

“I was really proud of Noah for him to do what he did,” Yze said.

“He’s been training with the backs the last month and then obviously with Lynchy going out, we need some support down there.

“He had a role on Darcy Moore to make him accountable. He’s obviously their captain and a really important player for them.

“So, for him to not only have some influence with the ball, but just the role that he was playing was really important for us. He kept toiling away.

“The boys were really happy with his performance, and so were we.”

https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1844656/balta-bolsters-tigers-in-his-return

[Andyy]

I thought he was modest.

His best performance was his first game this year.

Been poor to modest ever since.

[Chuck17]

Have to agree, very under whelming game.

In terms of presence, Jonty was in front of Balta imo

[one-eyed]

Tigers’ burning question: What does Noah Balta’s role look like?

The role of Richmond gun Noah Balta moving forward remains an interesting watch. The Tigers tall has been thrown forward to help cover the absence of Tom Lynch in recent weeks, but long term, where he is best suited remains a dilemma for Adem Yze and his coaching staff. A shift back to defence seems the most likely option, but Ben Miller and Tylar Young have held down those key position roles admirably. If he stays in the front half alongside Lynch, it’ll likely mean one of their promising young talls, whether that’s Tom Sims, Harry Armstrong or Jonty Faull, misses out. Balta has been successful in playing a negating role on an opposition’s best key defender too before, so there’s that to add to the mix. Lynch will be available from suspension next week but keep an eye on how Yze uses his bullocking tall in the final weeks of the year.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2025-the-blowtorch-round-21-preview-every-clubs-burning-questions-analysis-stats-how-to-watch-on-fox-footy-commentators-latest-news/news-story/e308def43277954c9d3051dba5f1f72c

[one-eyed]

Yze gives update on Balta

Noah Balta featured in 13 games across the season, and Yze opened up around the work the 25-year-old had been doing within the Club to earn back respect.

“Within our four walls, he handled it really well, but it was a tough year,” Yze said.

“When you are missing games of footy, which was his own fault, but when you are missing games of footy when you are fit, it can be really tough.

“He tried to still be a good leader around the footy club and help our young defenders.

“I saw him do a lot of one-on-one work and coach our players out on the field to fast-track their development.

“He is obviously really remorseful for that, and it was a really disappointing year for him, but to his credit, right now and at the end of the season, he has been in there every day making sure that he can repay the faith and respect that he lost from not only us, but the supporters and the Tiger Army.

“He felt like he let a lot of people down (this) year, and he is a really proud person, and hopefully this brings out the best in him.”

https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1896827/yze-gives-update-on-smillie-and-balta

[TigerLand]

Will go down as biggest beat up in history of AFL related things. Whilst the state is littered with crime, hows the perspective of this witch hunt of a couple of slaps to the face of a drunken creep who was unharmed? Compared to Bailey Smith who I think has flipped the bird to supporters and medias what, 4-5 times in a season? Abuses women? Right.

An absolute mess of a year for Noah, he's not a victim but he was given an absolute circus of a workplace environment, however you make your own luck, unfortunately.

Put Noah at full back and leave him there. He is not a forward. Never ever has been.He's athletic, he spolls, he runs and he kicks long. He's a back half player.

[Hard Roar Tiger]

I agree and they way in general that the AFL allows the Geelong Football Club to protect its players is a blight on the code.

[one-eyed]

Under Pressure: Noah Balta

Zero Hanger
7 Feb 2026

The 2025 season is one that Balta will be desperate to put behind him, having played just 13 games due to a suspension and curfew following an off-field incident. That lack of continuity appeared to affect his footy as he didn’t play with his usual consistency.

Richmond desperately needs him back at his combative, strong-marking best to act as an anchor for the defence, and reduce the reliance on veteran pair Nick Vlastuin and Nathan Broad.

https://www.zerohanger.com/free-your-ultimate-guide-to-the-2026-afl-season-is-available-now-172703/

[the claw]

People do realise what Batlta produced this year is pretty close to what he delivers every year at least numbers wise.

Imo i think as far as recent form goes he should not be an automatic start.

What we need from him if he is to play defense is a repeat of his 2023 where he got plenty of ball took lots of marks and contested ones as well.
He provided rebound and he generally played his opponents well.

Nearly every year he is uber inconsistent its either good Noah or Bad Noah and not much in the middle.

As for the above article i disagree. there is enough experience in the back half with the likes of miller at age 26, Banks turns 23 in early april as does Brown. they both are getting close to 50 games. Trezise is 23 and a mature body .Vlastuin, Broad and Short are all vets.
We also have some very promising youngsters like Gray, Trainor and Gibcus who can play in his place.

Another poor inconsistent year with improvement from the kids and in Gibcus case an injury free run and id be looking for a trade.

[Simonator]

Balta is an AA defender at his best. Whether he can get back to that is the question.

For context, in 2016 rance was the same age as Balta is now. Rance was hitting career best form after many wrote him off. No reason Balta can’t do the same. FWIW I don’t think Balta will ever be as good as Rance, but he still has time.

[Tiger Khosh]

Balta is an AA defender at his best. Whether he can get back to that is the question.

For context, in 2016 rance was the same age as Balta is now. Rance was hitting career best form after many wrote him off. No reason Balta can’t do the same. FWIW I don’t think Balta will ever be as good as Rance, but he still has time.

Think you’ve got your timelines wrong. Rance was already 2 x consecutive AA in 2016 and arguably the best defender in the game.

[Simonator]

I know, I said he was hitting career best form which is true imo. Rances best years were 17’ and ‘18 imo.