Player Watch #21: Noah Balta - Suspended First 4 Games
- Thread starter Grockadoc
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- Aug 25, 2018
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God, I wish they would do it. Seems so obvious
- Aug 25, 2018
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Balta's not slow and Freo have plenty of talls
- Dec 18, 2005
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For Balta to play back we have to play Soldo. Play Nank forward
- Mar 1, 2010
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Not sure Balta has the smarts to play back. Looked a fish out of water at times on Naughton when dealing with defending and watching the ball as well. I would put him FF with Lynch CHF.
I would keep it simple with him initially. Just win the ball and improve his marking for starters.
He has Rance traits but he is not Rance, not yet anyway. He has a bit of Richo about him athletically. He is an interesting one. Is taller in the trunk than Rance, not sure has has the same poise, balance as nor the ground ball skill of a Rance potentially. Maybe it will come later. Rance might be able to help him strengthen his legs and calves.
With JR out, Lynch go to CHF might be able to help him develop leading patterns as a FF which could be effective because he has the speed. Give him room to use his pace with the smalls in the 50 with Lynch further out. Could be a 2017 development moment like when Griffiths went down and freed up other attacking options. The delivery to him should be better in the firsts and see what happens
Longer term Balta could play with JR from the square with a small like Rioli or resting mid. Balta can go on longer leads out because he has the length of kick, apart from speed, to kick the goals from 50 metres and behind and JR can roam around the forward 50 and do what he does especially closer to goal. Lynch could set up CHF and drift in depending on the play.
It could be an interesting combination because with Lynch at CHF the team has traditionally post up play in transition because Lynch has the motor to provide an option further up the ground or in other areas. JR can be a weapon anywhere forward but the thing is, like that goal on the weekend Richo like, Balta is also a over the top option running back towards goal with his speed if he drifts up the ground or after a initial lead
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- Dec 18, 2005
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Can’t rate him on 5 minutes in defence. He’s playing all over the ground. Needs to settle at CHB imo
- Mar 1, 2010
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I am thinking correlations with previous players in terms of how suitable some players are to certain positions regarding their attributes.
Noah, may be able to be a backman over time but for me he is too raw at the moment decision wise requiring a lot more development.
Having said that he is a little ungainly in his movement. I then started thinking about another ungainly mover that was effective. No player is ever the same but is Balta the next Fraser Gehrig equivalent?? Fraser played in a lot of positions especially when young but he did settle over time as a handy FF
One thing about operating Balta at FF at times, it helps any tank issues and also simplifies rotating with Nank in the ruck as Nank just rests up forward along JR and co if Lynch settles closer to half forward
Noah, may be able to be a backman over time but for me he is too raw at the moment decision wise requiring a lot more development.
Having said that he is a little ungainly in his movement. I then started thinking about another ungainly mover that was effective. No player is ever the same but is Balta the next Fraser Gehrig equivalent?? Fraser played in a lot of positions especially when young but he did settle over time as a handy FF
One thing about operating Balta at FF at times, it helps any tank issues and also simplifies rotating with Nank in the ruck as Nank just rests up forward along JR and co if Lynch settles closer to half forward
When i see Balta play , I just see a player playing foward of centre
I would hate to think we would attempt to turn him into a defender he is a naturally attacking player and would do the most damage in the foward half of the ground
I would hate to think we would attempt to turn him into a defender he is a naturally attacking player and would do the most damage in the foward half of the ground
parmy2balmey
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you can turn anyone into a defender but there’s only one tony lockett, there’s only one tony lockett
- Apr 27, 2014
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Perfect description of what to do with the lad. The good old KISS and definitely keep him away from the BL.
A Tiger can’t hunt whilst locked in a cage. This bloke needs free reign and games to develop his strengths and traits. The BL scenes showed he looked unnatural and timid bc he was scared of
failure, yet when free to run he looked aggressive and dangerous .
- May 22, 2018
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He's not a defender. Let him **** oppos up in the fwd line.
I'd like to see both Garthwaite and Astbury come in this week, Balta forward and backup ruck for the game
- May 8, 2019
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Kid will be a star with more development and experience and hopefully being able to settle down into 1 role, whatever that may be
Little Bit Dusty
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- May 21, 2018
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Until he builds a tank I don't think we will know what position he is best suited too. Obviously with his height you would expect him to play as a KPP but we're yet to see if he has the composure and ability to read the game to play down there.
It may sounds stupid but I think he might actually be best suited to playing as a half back flanker. I know he's tall for that role but with his athleticism and long kicking (which seems to be fairly accurate), I think that's where he would work best. He will still have to be accountable for his man, but he won't be required to play on the oppositions best key forward/s. And once he has more confidence and can read the game a bit better he will be able to drop into the space and take intercept marks.
It may sounds stupid but I think he might actually be best suited to playing as a half back flanker. I know he's tall for that role but with his athleticism and long kicking (which seems to be fairly accurate), I think that's where he would work best. He will still have to be accountable for his man, but he won't be required to play on the oppositions best key forward/s. And once he has more confidence and can read the game a bit better he will be able to drop into the space and take intercept marks.
If Liam Jones can become a backman Balta can.
You can't judge Balta on his patchwork defence on the weekend. For one, Naughton beat everyone, Grimes included. Balta has trained all pre season in the roll he is playing and is only 19 years old. Balta will be a gun wherever he plays, not this season, but he has all the makings of a gun CHB.
His best games in the VFL have all been as a defender. The fact the club plays him there when he drops back means they probably think that's his long term position.
Just need to find another ruckman to work with Nank (preferably one that can actually win hitouts) or get Lynch to a level of fitness where he can give Nank a chopout.
Just need to find another ruckman to work with Nank (preferably one that can actually win hitouts) or get Lynch to a level of fitness where he can give Nank a chopout.
- Dec 5, 2012
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Id love to have Rance sitting on the bench during games to talk to him as he came off.
I doubt we'll ever see Soldo and Nank in the same team again.
No, he wouldn't.
He'd watch plenty now, they review everything.
parmy2balmey
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that's the point, anyone can be turned into a defender, even liam jones. don't waste what could be a blue chip attacking player by making them play in the backline. should be a last resort
Problem being we have Jack and Lynch as the two pillars. So while I get that he could a forward, although to this stage he hasn't shown much forward nouse, he would definitely not be your dour back, more like Rance, and from CHB he could be even more attacking. Right now I think he is being used in his best position, Ruck/forward given no Riewoldt.
- May 8, 2007
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Can't even remotely compare the two. Balta is an athletic football beast, even mentioned by the AFL last week as the = fastest in the league. He's lot like a young Richo and plays on instinct and the closer to goal the more explosive he is. Playing in defence in a lesser grade like VFL is natural and common to instill defensive values into his game at this level, but trying to turn him into a defender is just crazy and robbing the team and fans of his unique abilities. Imagine if we turned Richo into a CHB.
The advantage of Balta being in defence is he would have more TOG. He could work with the other players and improve his accountability. This week I noticed he was at about 80% which is normal. With Astbury coming back, I'd keep Balta where he is, ruck~ forward cos this keeps him involved. hope Lynch and Caddy start playing some good football and the whole team starts kicking straight
