Best 23 in 2026?

[Tiger Khosh]

Geez didn’t mean to start a war with my post.

My biggest issue with balta has always been his footy iq. It’s very evident that he was late to the game and it’s his athleticism that got him to adapt very quickly. When we were a great side and he had Rance, astbury, grimes, broad, vlas in the peak of their powers to take instruction from, he was a very important part in the back end of our dynasty. With the older guys finishing up / losing form, baltas form has also been on the steady decline culminating in his worst season yet this year. I’m interested to see whether last season was a result of what happened off field (and understandably so) and whether he can recapture his form this season.

Just basing it off last seasons form, I have him behind the other 7 defenders I named in my original post.

I wouldn’t be playing him wing or perm forward either, again footy iq isn’t there. I’d give sims first crack but 2nd ruck / part time fwd would be the only other place to play him imo.

Now if next season is a repeat of this one and a club desperate for key position defenders came calling with a good 2026 pick, I’d bite at that. We could cover a decent chunk of his salary too.

Hopefully he has reset his mind and gets back on track this season in which case the above is all just moot.

[ajGreen]

I wouldn’t engage Andy. The guy is a circular reference.
It’s not hard to find many examples of older players - either in the club or brought into a club to take an on field role in player development.
It’s happened time and again over many years.

Not strictly a prerequisite but why wouldn’t you do it?
Norf has had to change it’s recruiting because Brad Scott dumped and ran on all his senior experience and their kids were exposed. Not yet fixed because the decay was so bad on morale.
If the circular reference doesn’t see that, he can continue to chase his tail.

Yeah, bit of an echo chamber.

This is also why we have Taranto and Hopper, if not the reason we recruited them initially.

Thankfully someone else manages the list and runs the club.

Yep coming from the bloke that was crying over not having Daniel Lowther, as a SSP

[WilliamPowell]

That's enough with the petty insults and cheap shots

Stick to the topic and discussing it 

[Andyy]

Who guided Rance Asbury houli broad Vlastuin? Chaplin? Lol

It's cliche feel good untruths.

Vlastuin is more than enough. What's going to happen is Vlastuin. Broad. Short will be in the back 6 damaging the development of the club long term. And you'll be there sprouting zomg this is good! Luke hodge!!

Ideally Vlastuin and broad should be phased out of the back 6 either not playing if moving to wing/tagger/mid/ruck/fwd etc. to allow a back 6 develop together.

Most importantly Trainor and gibcus and then balta and miller.

You already likely have Vlastuin as a defender who is more hodge than hodge himself.

Yes, Rance was quite vocal about Chaplin's significant and positive influence on his development. Just because Tross became a legendary player doesn't mean Chaplin didn't help his development. Ironically Chaplin is now part of AFL coaching staff - who'd have thunk it?

Rance guided both Astbury and Grimes IMO. Probably Broad in the early days a bit as well.

Houli and Vlastuin are different sorts of players.

Broad will see out his final year and be useful, then Vlastuin will continue another year or two easily.

So you don't actually need a Luke hodge type to develop a good backline? Those were just lies a few posts up.

You can have a soft spud like Chaplin do it?

Hence balta and miller should be more than up to the task.

Well, we managed 3 flags without Luke Hodge.

Rance spoke highly of Chaplin's influence on him.

I see Broad and Vlastuin playing that role somewhat.

Evidence would suggest Balta may not be the best candidate for mentoring roles at this stage.

Balta twating a bloke in a pub disqualifies him yet hodge is the goat for drink driving. Ending his friendship with rioli. Endlessly elbowing people in the head. Heading a systematic racism scandal. Telling goodes he's a wanker etc etc. is acceptable?

Many Richmond and former Richmond have spoken highly about balta too

I never said Hodge is the GOAT myself. In fact it really annoys me that people call Cotchin a dirty player/sniper but Hodge cops all the plaudits. He was filthy. The rest sounds mostly like conjecture.

Balta won't be getting any leadership roles so soon after an assault charge, we can be sure of that.

I wouldn’t engage Andy. The guy is a circular reference.
It’s not hard to find many examples of older players - either in the club or brought into a club to take an on field role in player development.
It’s happened time and again over many years.

Not strictly a prerequisite but why wouldn’t you do it?
Norf has had to change it’s recruiting because Brad Scott dumped and ran on all his senior experience and their kids were exposed. Not yet fixed because the decay was so bad on morale.
If the circular reference doesn’t see that, he can continue to chase his tail.

Yeah, bit of an echo chamber.

This is also why we have Taranto and Hopper, if not the reason we recruited them initially.

Thankfully someone else manages the list and runs the club.

Yep coming from the bloke that was crying over not having Daniel Lowther, as a SSP

Who?

No idea what you're talking about.

[Damo]

Ending his friendship with rioli.

Are you playing opposites?
Because you clearly have no idea if this is the case.
Hodge, Buddy (yep Buddy), Roughy and numerous other friends have tried and tried to speak to Cyril and he won’t have a bar of it. Going to tell us Buddy played an integral part in the racism as well?

Rioli was barracking for the Gold Coast against the Hawks early this year (petty, even accounting for Daniel). After which Hodge made the effort to go and see him after the siren. They seemed friendly at this point.

You are talking about something you clearly have zero or extremely limited knowledge about. I have mates that were heavily involved at Hawthorn at the time and what you are accusing Luke Hodge of, regarding the friendship and involvement in the racism etc , is so wrong that it’s pathetic.

[Andyy]

Ending his friendship with rioli.

Are you playing opposites?
Because you clearly have no idea if this is the case.
Hodge, Buddy (yep Buddy), Roughy and numerous other friends have tried and tried to speak to Cyril and he won’t have a bar of it. Going to tell us Buddy played an integral part in the racism as well?

Rioli was barracking for the Gold Coast against the Hawks early this year (petty, even accounting for Daniel). After which Hodge made the effort to go and see him after the siren. They seemed friendly at this point.

You are talking about something you clearly have zero or extremely limited knowledge about. I have mates that were heavily involved at Hawthorn at the time and what you are accusing Luke Hodge of, regarding the friendship and involvement in the racism etc , is so wrong that it’s pathetic.

*like button*

[ajGreen]

Who guided Rance Asbury houli broad Vlastuin? Chaplin? Lol

It's cliche feel good untruths.

Vlastuin is more than enough. What's going to happen is Vlastuin. Broad. Short will be in the back 6 damaging the development of the club long term. And you'll be there sprouting zomg this is good! Luke hodge!!

Ideally Vlastuin and broad should be phased out of the back 6 either not playing if moving to wing/tagger/mid/ruck/fwd etc. to allow a back 6 develop together.

Most importantly Trainor and gibcus and then balta and miller.

You already likely have Vlastuin as a defender who is more hodge than hodge himself.

Yes, Rance was quite vocal about Chaplin's significant and positive influence on his development. Just because Tross became a legendary player doesn't mean Chaplin didn't help his development. Ironically Chaplin is now part of AFL coaching staff - who'd have thunk it?

Rance guided both Astbury and Grimes IMO. Probably Broad in the early days a bit as well.

Houli and Vlastuin are different sorts of players.

Broad will see out his final year and be useful, then Vlastuin will continue another year or two easily.

So you don't actually need a Luke hodge type to develop a good backline? Those were just lies a few posts up.

You can have a soft spud like Chaplin do it?

Hence balta and miller should be more than up to the task.

Well, we managed 3 flags without Luke Hodge.

Rance spoke highly of Chaplin's influence on him.

I see Broad and Vlastuin playing that role somewhat.

Evidence would suggest Balta may not be the best candidate for mentoring roles at this stage.

Balta twating a bloke in a pub disqualifies him yet hodge is the goat for drink driving. Ending his friendship with rioli. Endlessly elbowing people in the head. Heading a systematic racism scandal. Telling goodes he's a wanker etc etc. is acceptable?

Many Richmond and former Richmond have spoken highly about balta too

I never said Hodge is the GOAT myself. In fact it really annoys me that people call Cotchin a dirty player/sniper but Hodge cops all the plaudits. He was filthy. The rest sounds mostly like conjecture.

Balta won't be getting any leadership roles so soon after an assault charge, we can be sure of that.

I wouldn’t engage Andy. The guy is a circular reference.
It’s not hard to find many examples of older players - either in the club or brought into a club to take an on field role in player development.
It’s happened time and again over many years.

Not strictly a prerequisite but why wouldn’t you do it?
Norf has had to change it’s recruiting because Brad Scott dumped and ran on all his senior experience and their kids were exposed. Not yet fixed because the decay was so bad on morale.
If the circular reference doesn’t see that, he can continue to chase his tail.

Yeah, bit of an echo chamber.

This is also why we have Taranto and Hopper, if not the reason we recruited them initially.

Thankfully someone else manages the list and runs the club.

Yep coming from the bloke that was crying over not having Daniel Lowther, as a SSP

Who?

No idea what you're talking about.

A mature age ruck signed for the Richmond vfl side. That you were complaining his type not being given an afl spot ahead of two promising kids. Such is you list management levels of knowledge

Balta doesn't need to be in the leadership group officially to mentor the backline. The coach. Who I expect has more idea than you. Has praised balta leadership.

 " Yze said Balta's character in the team environment is one many of his players continue to look to, with his leadership skills a significant benefit for the group.

"He's such a good teammate," Yze continued.

"The players love having him around, part of the group, and he's a leader out there. "

Ending his friendship with rioli.

Are you playing opposites?
Because you clearly have no idea if this is the case.
Hodge, Buddy (yep Buddy), Roughy and numerous other friends have tried and tried to speak to Cyril and he won’t have a bar of it. Going to tell us Buddy played an integral part in the racism as well?

Rioli was barracking for the Gold Coast against the Hawks early this year (petty, even accounting for Daniel). After which Hodge made the effort to go and see him after the siren. They seemed friendly at this point.

You are talking about something you clearly have zero or extremely limited knowledge about. I have mates that were heavily involved at Hawthorn at the time and what you are accusing Luke Hodge of, regarding the friendship and involvement in the racism etc , is so wrong that it’s pathetic.

I'll be honest with ya , I  could not give a rats about the specifics. The overarching point is that while hodge was a great leader and player he is far from a choir boy and there is no reason balta and miller could not be leaders of the standard is troy Chaplin.

Vlastuin. Broad. Short. Is way too many old people in the back6 given the clubs position and timeline.

[Andyy]

A mature age ruck signed for the Richmond vfl side. That you were complaining his type not being given an afl spot ahead of two promising kids. Such is you list management levels of knowledge

Balta doesn't need to be in the leadership group officially to mentor the backline. The coach. Who I expect has more idea than you. Has praised balta leadership.

 " Yze said Balta's character in the team environment is one many of his players continue to look to, with his leadership skills a significant benefit for the group.

"He's such a good teammate," Yze continued.

"The players love having him around, part of the group, and he's a leader out there. "

So you admit to being full of S about me 'crying' that we didn't give a rookie spot to someone named Lowther?
I've identified a list need and I think the club is remiss for not addressing it. That's all.
But hey, if Nank goes down I'm sure Ryan (lol) and a teenage Sims will do the job. Or maybe that bloke in the VFL who hasn't had a sniff yet.


Yze isn't going to come out and say Balta needs a whack over the head sometimes, is he?
Of course he's a <insert cliche here>. Why not mention how hard he trains, all the muscle he's putting on over summer, best pre-season he's ever had, etc etc?

[Andyy]

I'll be honest with ya , I  could not give a rats about the specifics. The overarching point is that while hodge was a great leader and player he is far from a choir boy and there is no reason balta and miller could not be leaders of the standard is troy Chaplin.

Vlastuin. Broad. Short. Is way too many old people in the back6 given the clubs position and timeline.

Spits BS conjecture, accusing people of driving systemic levels of racism, claiming to understand intimate social dynamics between other people etc etc.

Then follow up with 'I could not give a rats about the specifics'.

 

[ajGreen]

Yze says balta is a leader. Must be PC hogwash.

Rance says Chaplin isn't a soft gimp that's like playing  a man down and you believe that's gospel?

Remarkable.

[Andyy]

Yze says balta is a leader. Must be PC hogwash.

Rance says Chaplin isn't a soft gimp that's like playing  a man down and you believe that's gospel?

Remarkable.

[ajGreen]

A mature age ruck signed for the Richmond vfl side. That you were complaining his type not being given an afl spot ahead of two promising kids. Such is you list management levels of knowledge

Balta doesn't need to be in the leadership group officially to mentor the backline. The coach. Who I expect has more idea than you. Has praised balta leadership.

 " Yze said Balta's character in the team environment is one many of his players continue to look to, with his leadership skills a significant benefit for the group.

"He's such a good teammate," Yze continued.

"The players love having him around, part of the group, and he's a leader out there. "

So you admit to being full of S about me 'crying' that we didn't give a rookie spot to someone named Lowther?
I've identified a list need and I think the club is remiss for not addressing it. That's all.
But hey, if Nank goes down I'm sure Ryan (lol) and a teenage Sims will do the job. Or maybe that bloke in the VFL who hasn't had a sniff yet.


Yze isn't going to come out and say Balta needs a whack over the head sometimes, is he?
Of course he's a <insert cliche here>. Why not mention how hard he trains, all the muscle he's putting on over summer, best pre-season he's ever had, etc etc?

So when nankervis gets hurt and richmond play OHB/Ryan/balta etc. As a ruck Richmond might come bottom 2 instead of bottom 4?

Oh my goodness good point again