Noah Balta - 2024 expectations?

[one-eyed]

Which end of the ground should Balta play this year, and what would be a good season for him?


Career stats:
          Games  Kicks  Hballs  Disp.  Marks  Tackles  G.B    Clear.  In50   Re50   GA
2018       -
2019      13      6.7     2.6      9.3     2.4      2.2      6.4      1.9     2.9     1.0    0.5
2020      17      7.8     3.1    10.8     3.8      0.9      1.1      0.1     0.8     3.1    0.1
2021      14*    9.2     3.9    13.1     4.6      1.3      2.1      0.4     1.1     3.1    0.1
2022      18*    8.2     3.2    11.4     4.2      1.1    13.7      0.6     1.8     2.2    0.2
2023      23    11.8     3.0    14.7     6.4      1.2      3.3      0.0     1.2     5.3    0.0

* Includes 3 games subbed off.

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-richmond-tigers--noah-balta

[MintOnLamb]

Time to shine, will be a Smokey for the CB??  …. Hopefully

[Hard Roar Tiger]

Balta is that classic player that opposition supporters accuse us of overrating when the team is struggling but then is normally one of the reasons a side jumps up out of the ground from obscurity.

Is a crucial piece to the jigsaw puzzle.

[Andyy]

Thought '23 was actually a great year despite a poor patch for a while.

Hard to know what to expect. If they move him forward I can see it going either way. If they keep him back I think he'll be solid again.

Would be a shame if he goes forward, fails, then goes back with low confidence.

[lamington]

I think he’s a better defender than a forward. He is having some raw “Noah Balta moments” but I think those can be coached out of him. I think he needs a reminder that even though he has prodigious athletic talent he still has limitations and just needs to play within them.

Like when he consistently gave Josh Kennedy 10m back in 2022 thinking he can just close him down with speed

[JP Tiger]

We used to call them "Alex Rance moments",  now they are just known as "Noah's".  Lets hope it comes out the same ...  & I think it will!     

[Chuck17]

Would have to be one of the most unluckiest footballers following on from Rance and with a similar build

[FooffooValve]

Thought '23 was actually a great year despite a poor patch for a while.

Hard to know what to expect. If they move him forward I can see it going either way. If they keep him back I think he'll be solid again.

Would be a shame if he goes forward, fails, then goes back with low confidence.

Agree - he was generally very good until the last month or so when he is head and confidence went awol for some reason. Still see him as our no 1 KPD...until Gibcus goes past him.