Noah Balta charged with assault

[Hard Roar Tiger]

I presume he’s missing the preseaon games as well which makes it a 6 game suspension while Stevie May and Liam Ryan go along and play footy.
What a crazy world we live in

[Francois Jackson]

Crazy is not the world here. Not only that Yze had to stick some more boots in during his last presser.

This is only playing out like this because we are sitting last on the ladder. Any other time and there is no chance Balta misses games.

[Hard Roar Tiger]

Good point FJ, got a little idealistic there

[WilliamPowell]

Crazy is not the world here. Not only that Yze had to stick some more boots in during his last presser.

This is only playing out like this because we are sitting last on the ladder. Any other time and there is no chance Balta misses games.

Sorry did I miss something

Where exactly did Yze "stick some more boots in during his presser"

I presume he’s missing the preseaon games as well which makes it a 6 game suspension while Stevie May and Liam Ryan go along and play footy.
What a crazy world we live in

Ryan got cleared by the WA police so he's free to play.

Yes May played yesterday as the cops are still investigating.

What you conveniently neglect to mention is Prestia has also been linked to the May incident and our Club you know the one you've continually bagged over the Balta over have said that Prestia is free to play as he has no case to answer....or I'd you miss that bit?

Single biggest differences between Balta and the cases you keep mentioning are

1/ Balta was charged by the cops and after that happened
2/ went to the Club told then what happened and what he did and the Club acted. He subsequently pleaded guilty to the charge.

I really don't understand why you cannot accept those pesky facts.
Title facts

[Hard Roar Tiger]

We don’t know what happened so the punishment might not fit the crime.
For all we know, he threw a punch and missed him.
Guy could have fallen over avoiding the swing and got that cut.
Once we know, it will make that suspension clearer.
All us have said is wait until we have all the information as a club and hold a presser to explain it
Balta has done the right thing and pleaded guilty which has resulted in a 6 week suspension.
May has not and is free to play.
That doesn’t sit well with me.

Ryan may have been cleared by the cops but are we now condoning street fights?
His excuse might have merit but why did he need to shape up and fight the bloke?
Doesn’t make any sense.

Prestia has previously been cleared by the club and they stated as he was a bystander and not involved or do we now want to suspend players for guilt by association?

[WilliamPowell]

We don’t know what happened so the punishment might not fit the crime.
For all we know, he threw a punch and missed him.
Guy could have fallen over avoiding the swing and got that cut.
Once we know, it will make that suspension clearer.
All us have said is wait until we have all the information as a club and hold a presser to explain it
Balta has done the right thing and pleaded guilty which has resulted in a 6 week suspension.
May has not and is free to play.
That doesn’t sit well with me.

Ryan may have been cleared by the cops but are we now condoning street fights?
His excuse might have merit but why did he need to shape up and fight the bloke?
Doesn’t make any sense.

Prestia has previously been cleared as he was a bystander and not involved or do we now want to suspend players for guilt by association?

My point is you keep comparing incidents that are not close to being the same.

Prestia told the Club what happened and they are obviously satisfied and so he is in the clear. As for May  he is under investigation and Melbourne have said he's free to play, that's their call. BTW he hasn't been charged so what exactly is he supposed to pleade guilty to?

As for Ryan, if you want to compare it to a similar incident. Go back to 2021 when Bolton and Rioli, D got involved in a brawl while standing up for one of their partners. No police charges, Club didn't punish them, was that condoning street fights? .. oh BTW AFL did swoop in and fined Bolton because the Club did nothing..

Noah was not under investigation when he fronted the Club. He was already charged with assault causing grievous bodily harm. Key wording in the charge is "grievous bodily harm".

Noah being honest, upfront and taking responsibility for what he did doesn’t sit well with you? Would you have preferred he get sentenced, after playing a couple of meaningless praccy games and then miss 6 H&A games or god knows how many if the punishment was handed out by the AFL?

Unlike you I don't think we need to hear the details of what happened at this stage. There is no need. The person most affected and that's Noah Balta, not me or anyone on this forum has told the people that needed to know what happened. Are you seriously suggesting if he swung a punch and missed the penalty would have been as harsh as it is? Let the his next court date play out and I'm sure all the details will be made public by the media

[Hard Roar Tiger]

Comparison is relevant because it all - all of it - sits within a code of conduct as it relates to bringing the code into disrepute.
Your argument is like saying we won’t compare racial vilification to punching someone by the tribunal.
Both sit within a players conduct on the field as both Liam Ryan and Noah Balta’s sits off field.

I am not comparing the incidents directly but both are a bad look for the competition unless you think that footage is a good look.

Where exactly have I said Noah Balta should not have pleaded guilty? I am not saying that, I always been of the view we should have waited until the court case was finished as at the time it was supposed to be resolved before the season started.

My point has always been to wait, bring all the facts to the table to help everyone understand it. Liam Ryan’s has been handled that way and while I do not agree with his lack of sanction it does give context. That is all I am saying for Noah Balta.

As for Stevie May - it has been reported a few times that Dion Prestia was a bystander and not part of police investigations. Again, we have some information to use.

“Prestia saw it happening but in no way was he involved. They weren’t involved in any physical altercation.” This was the official club statement. So, don’t know what your point is. It pin points WHY they are satisfied

[WilliamPowell]

Where exactly have I said Noah Balta should not have pleaded guilty? I am not saying that, I always been of the view we should have waited until the court case was finished as at the time it was supposed to be resolved before the season started.

My point has always been to wait, bring all the facts to the table to help everyone understand it. Liam Ryan’s has been handled that way and while I do not agree with his lack of sanction it does give context. That is all I am saying for Noah Balta.

You didn't say he shouldn't pleade guilty. But you did say

" We don’t know what happened so the punishment might not fit the crime.
For all we know, he threw a punch and missed him.
Guy could have fallen over avoiding the swing and got that cut.
Once we know, it will make that suspension clearer.
All us have said is wait until we have all the information as a club and hold a presser to explain it
Balta has done the right thing and pleaded guilty which has resulted in a 6 week suspension.
May has not and is free to play.
That doesn’t sit well with me.

You are right we the members and supporters don't know what truly happened.

But and it is the key for mine Noah does and he told the Club. The Club has all the info it clearly needs from Noah. They believe Noah. So to say the Club doesn't have all the information is incorrect. Why isn't what Noah had told the club enough from you?

Your issue seems to be more with the fact the Club hasn't given the details of what they've been told by the player. Untilcthe ,after is finalised in front of the Courts they don't need, nor should they. Ever thought for a minute that the Clubs actions may help Noah in his court case? Not saying it will but it might

[MintOnLamb]

Whoa

There are so many narratives and possibilities James Cameron would be agog!

Has anyone considered that he did not plead guilty, he just rocked up to the cop shop after hearing there was an issue, and made a statement??

What he told the club,,,, is confidential.

Just keep your options and opinions open.

[WilliamPowell]

Whoa

There are so many narratives and possibilities James Cameron would be agog!

Has anyone considered that he did not plead guilty, he just rocked up to the cop shop after hearing there was an issue, and made a statement??

What he told the club,,,, is confidential.

Just keep your options and opinions open.

Umm he has pleased guilty.... on the 30th January to be precise. He continues to be on bail until his next hearing date where he is due to sentenced

See page 6 of this thread 
https://oneeyed-richmond.com/forum/index.php?topic=33794.msg785067#msg785067

He handed himself and was subsequently charged and bailed...

So sorry, Mint not sure what point you're trying to make TBH

[MintOnLamb]

Whoa

There are so many narratives and possibilities James Cameron would be agog!

Has anyone considered that he did not plead guilty, he just rocked up to the cop shop after hearing there was an issue, and made a statement??

What he told the club,,,, is confidential.

Just keep your options and opinions open.

Umm he has pleased guilty.... on the 30th January to be precise. He continues to be on bail until his next hearing date where he is due to sentenced

See page 6 of this thread 
https://oneeyed-richmond.com/forum/index.php?topic=33794.msg785067#msg785067

He handed himself and was subsequently charged and bailed...

So sorry, Mint not sure what point you're trying to make TBH

Sorry too many reds🥹

[Go Richo 12]

From the Border Mail today: https://www.bordermail.com.au/story/8898930/richmonds-noah-balta-to-be-sued-over-mulwala-ski-club-assault/?cs=11
A Yarrawonga man who was seriously injured by Richmond player Noah Balta will sue the footballer, with his lawyer describing the Mulwala assault as savage, brutal, and unprovoked.
Balta is awaiting sentence in Corowa court in March after admitting to assault occasioning actual bodily harm over the Mulwala Water Ski Club incident.
The assault occurred on December 30 last year, and Balta handed himself in at the Mulwala police station the next day.
Balta will be sentenced in Corowa Local Court on March 27.

He will miss pre-season matches and the first four rounds following a club-imposed sanction.
The victim, Wangaratta council worker Thomas Washbrook, will sue Balta over the attack, which his lawyer, John Suta, described as "brutal".
"He was savagely and brutally assaulted by you without provocation by being punched by you on numerous occasions, in circumstances in which you had obviously consumed excessive intoxicating liquor ... and our client thereby suffered severe injury," Mr Suta said in a letter to Balta.


He said the injuries included "severe and extensive" facial lacerations, abrasions and bruising, concussion, rib fractures, headaches, PTSD, shock, scarring, anxiety, and other problems.
Noah Balta seriously assaulted Thomas Washbrook at the Mulwala Water Ski Club on December 30 last year. Mr Washbrook's lawyer says he plans to make a civil claim for damages in court.

"I think his mental battle is harder than his physical battle," Mr Suta said.
"I'm not a plastic surgeon, but it appears he's got a scar that will be lifelong on the right-hand side of his forehead.

"It will be a permanent scar."
The assault occurred at the Mulwala Water Ski Club. File picture
The assault occurred at the Mulwala Water Ski Club. File picture
Mr Suta said security vision showed his client had twice been hit by Balta as he tried to get up.
"It was a particularly brutal assault," he said.
"Cowardly."
A civil claim hasn't been filed in NSW court, but Mr Suta said that would happen soon after Balta failed to respond to a January 30 letter.
He said there had been "arrogant silence" from the footballer.
Mr Suta said he was seeking damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses, and aggravated damages.
Richmond declined to comment.
The club's chief executive Shane Dunne stated in January that "Noah deeply regrets being involved in the incident".
Balta will be sentenced over the assault in Corowa Local Court on March 27.

[WilliamPowell]

Seeing the Border Mail is part of the Murdoch media, I'm sure the HUN will pick up the above pretty quickly

So nice of the victim's lawyer to allow the paper to print part of the letter

As for "arrogant silience"; I think the victim's lawyer would know that the silence has been advised by Noah's lawyers

[Tigeritis™©®]

Balta strikes me as a person not running on all cylinders.

I dunno but he might have kangaroos loose in the top paddock.

What I'm sayin' is, he's not the full quid and he's probably a snag short of a barbie.

[Diocletian]

Strongly suspect the "ptsd" suddenly kicked in once he realised who the assailant was and only worsened when he was made aware of said assailant's recent contract.