Noah Balta charged with assault

[Tiger Khosh]

That club statement is exactly what I thought it would be. Obviously can’t comment on the incident as it’s a police matter, but it was always gonna be at the very least a “shouldn’t have put himself” in that situation sanction.

[pmac21]

I feel as though the wind has been taken out of the club's sails with this incident and suspension. 

[RedanTiger]

Visited my brother in Mulwala today for a family lunch.
He's lived in Mul for about 40 or 50 years, since before the Ski Club was built.
He's a regular there and has mates who work there including in management.

When I asked about this he told me the following:
On the tiled deck outside (lakeside) a couple ordered a pizza and had it delivered to their table.
Balta's brother then hassled them to give him a piece of their pizza.
The bloke got fed up in the finish and pushed the brother away.
Balta then stepped in and belted the pizza man.
He then followed up with a couple more shots while the guy was on the ground.
It's been reported that the guy was treated in hospital for "lacerations to the head". We will find out in court what type of lacerations and the cause (the initial punch, hitting the ground from that or the follow up punches).
Regardless this is not likely to result in a dismissal of charges, the police would seem likely to follow through to trial and verdict.

My brother also said there would be plenty of witnesses and a lot of CCTV footage. He said there was CCTV "everywhere".
I think he told me previously that the club has a lot of CCTV as they were getting suit threats from customers who had done the wrong thing and then got into trouble and this allowed them to get a lot of those nuisance suits against the club or its employees dismissed. Youngish crowd, drunk and loud rock music is the norm at the Ski Club.

In a lot of these cases it is usually a member of the star player's group who seem to feel they are as entitled as the star and create problems with their feeling of entitlement.
The player is then the one to bear the cost - in Balta's case up around $250,000 for loss of 4 games and bonuses.

BTW I trust my brother's account as while it is second-hand gossip it would come informally from club management
 

[WilliamPowell]

There is a reason why "details" of what allegedly took place are not out in public domain....

Talk about prejudicing someone's case 

[Damo]

There is a reason why "details" of what allegedly took place are not out in public domain....

Talk about prejudicing someone's case 

Reminds me a lot of the Dusty chopstick incident

Judging things without the facts is never a good idea

Just ask KB

[Francois Jackson]

Not just KB but  a few on here. 

If this was balta in 2019 he would never have been suspended straight away. Club has lost its way since Benny left. I mean when Bennys mind left for tassy.

These times I wish we had the old Dimma back. No way this would be handled like this under him

[Hard Roar Tiger]

What happened to innocent until proven otherwise?
I think it’s time clubs called the AFL’s bluff but standing firm on player rights until these things play out.
Charge him and have the trial. Let the thing play out.

[Go Richo 12]

What happened to innocent until proven otherwise?
I think it’s time clubs called the AFL’s bluff but standing firm on player rights until these things play out.
Charge him and have the trial. Let the thing play out.

Reading between the lines here, but it seems to me like Balta has come clean and admitted he did something wrong and the club gets the penalty out of the way ASAP instead of having it dragged out.

[Willy]

What happened to innocent until proven otherwise?
I think it’s time clubs called the AFL’s bluff but standing firm on player rights until these things play out.
Charge him and have the trial. Let the thing play out.

Reading between the lines here, but it seems to me like Balta has come clean and admitted he did something wrong and the club gets the penalty out of the way ASAP instead of having it dragged out.

Yahuh

[Andyy]

What happened to innocent until proven otherwise?
I think it’s time clubs called the AFL’s bluff but standing firm on player rights until these things play out.
Charge him and have the trial. Let the thing play out.

Reading between the lines here, but it seems to me like Balta has come clean and admitted he did something wrong and the club gets the penalty out of the way ASAP instead of having it dragged out.

Yahuh

Exactly.

Club isn't being woke.

They're just being proactive and clearly know more than we do.

[RedanTiger]

There is a reason why "details" of what allegedly took place are not out in public domain....

Talk about prejudicing someone's case 

This is an internet forum.
As such there is a lot of gossip about incidents, much of it either plain wrong or misinformed.
"not out in the public domain". I would bet that every resident of Mulwala/Yarrawonga knows the full story of what happened, particularly since it has been reported in the national media.
I presume the court case will include CCTV footage and other evidence, notably from witnesses.
What I have posted to this forum will NOT be part of the case and since it will not be a jury case I don't think there is any relevant "prejudice".

There  have  been multiple postings here that voiced the idea that Balta and his brother were totally innocent and had been attacked.
That is prejudice based on the hope that one of our players was not at fault and nothing else.
As a result I posted what I believe to be the truth based on an informed source.

Your attack on me for my "prejudice" seems to me to be the pot calling the kettle black.
 

[WilliamPowell]

There is a reason why "details" of what allegedly took place are not out in public domain....

Talk about prejudicing someone's case 

This is an internet forum.
As such there is a lot of gossip about incidents, much of it either plain wrong or misinformed.
"not out in the public domain". I would bet that every resident of Mulwala/Yarrawonga knows the full story of what happened, particularly since it has been reported in the national media.
I presume the court case will include CCTV footage and other evidence, notably from witnesses.
What I have posted to this forum will NOT be part of the case and since it will not be a jury case I don't think there is any relevant "prejudice".

There  have  been multiple postings here that voiced the idea that Balta and his brother were totally innocent and had been attacked.
That is prejudice based on the hope that one of our players was not at fault and nothing else.
As a result I posted what I believe to be the truth based on an informed source.

Your attack on me for my "prejudice" seems to me to be the pot calling the kettle black.

FWIW I have not seen one news article in print or on electronic media detailing what you have. Please feel free to post any link to what you've claimed happened in

We have also been very consistent removing posts that put that this site at risk of legal action. That is unsubstantiated rumours. At this time your post is borderline at needing to be removed. Just waiting on some legal feedback

You say the details have been bounded around in "national media". Outside of him being charged and conditionally bailed there isn't any details. Yes, Im sure everyone in Mulwala and Yarrawonga have heard versions of what happened,  part and parcel of country towns.

I did not attack you, not even close. Just gave an opinion. In your world if that's an attack then sorry, but that's on you not me..

[Fluffy Tiger]

There is a reason why "details" of what allegedly took place are not out in public domain....

Talk about prejudicing someone's case 

This is an internet forum.
As such there is a lot of gossip about incidents, much of it either plain wrong or misinformed.
"not out in the public domain". I would bet that every resident of Mulwala/Yarrawonga knows the full story of what happened, particularly since it has been reported in the national media.
I presume the court case will include CCTV footage and other evidence, notably from witnesses.
What I have posted to this forum will NOT be part of the case and since it will not be a jury case I don't think there is any relevant "prejudice".

There  have  been multiple postings here that voiced the idea that Balta and his brother were totally innocent and had been attacked.
That is prejudice based on the hope that one of our players was not at fault and nothing else.
As a result I posted what I believe to be the truth based on an informed source.

Your attack on me for my "prejudice" seems to me to be the pot calling the kettle black.

You would loose that bet.

[Hard Roar Tiger]

What happened to innocent until proven otherwise?
I think it’s time clubs called the AFL’s bluff but standing firm on player rights until these things play out.
Charge him and have the trial. Let the thing play out.

Reading between the lines here, but it seems to me like Balta has come clean and admitted he did something wrong and the club gets the penalty out of the way ASAP instead of having it dragged out.

Yahuh

Exactly.

Club isn't being woke.

They're just being proactive and clearly know more than we do.

If they know something, just declare it. It’s woke to just suspend him with being more specific. FFS, if he’s done the wrong thing, declare it an announce he plans to plead guilty. Otherwise, it’s just jumping at shadows which is weak, insipid leadership

[JP Tiger]

If a player commits a criminal offence & admits it to the club because he knows he is guilty, is it weak or woke of the club to suspend that player?
In any other world the club would be seen to be strong & setting an example to all of its players (especially the young blokes) to give that player his right whack.  What else should the club do - pretend it didn't happen because its a top player involved?
We aren't talking about breaking the rules of kiss chasey here, or breaking wind in church, we are talking about a potentially serious criminal offence ...