Player Watch #21: Noah Balta

[getthefooty]

Yeah I like the retro kick ins. Doing tricky stuff with kick ins is ultimately not going to win you a flag. Get the big rooster to roost it big and and get that sherrin tf outta there.

One of our biggest downfalls this year has been bombing down the line from kick ins/HB with not enough representation to bring it to ground. The intercept kings from the oppo have killed us this year - would love to see some stats on this.

If we don't have the talls required to bring it to ground and then surge it forward, we need to be more pinpoint out of defence IMO. More leads on the 45 in and around D50 to create little pockets of space. Chip it to the wing then go long if needed. But it's becoming too easy for the oppo to pick it off when we play on from the goalsquare and go long every time. Often we're kicking it to smalls or a Pickett type that are hopelessly outbodied.

 

[Grrr]

One of our biggest downfalls this year has been bombing down the line from kick ins/HB with not enough representation to bring it to ground. The intercept kings from the oppo have killed us this year - would love to see some stats on this.

If we don't have the talls required to bring it to ground and then surge it forward, we need to be more pinpoint out of defence IMO. More leads on the 45 in and around D50 to create little pockets of space. Chip it to the wing then go long if needed. But it's becoming too easy for the oppo to pick it off when we play on from the goalsquare and go long every time. Often we're kicking it to smalls or a Pickett type that are hopelessly outbodied.

That is where Miller is so frustrating, or the way they play him, or both. He is the perfect down the line player, doesn't have to mark it, he's doing that part well, just has to want the ball and contest, tap it on etc. He is so athletic he should be able to do it.

We used Jack a lot at CHF this week, Miller was either deep, rucking or on the bench. That is not Jack's game any more. That is why I want Bradtke in the side, he actually leads pretty hard at the ball and is not shy of physical contact. They put Bauer in for that reason, the reason didn't go away when he got injured.

 

[domin8]

AA squad?

 

[blaisee]

AA squad?

Doesn’t play for Geelong so no

 

[domin8]

Doesn’t play for Geelong so no

Touche

 

[Tomnat Tigers]

Another 500 metres gained to go with his 4 contested marks.

Love the way Mini is using him.

 

[IHaveAHardWick]

Balta, Young and Vlaus have looked like different players under Mini. All 3 really stepped up the last month.

 

[Bojangles17]

Balta, Young and Vlaus have looked like different players under Mini. All 3 really stepped up the last month.

Truck returning has to have made a difference to our defensive stock , no question , can tell youngy has added several dirty defensive tricks to the bag truck would have taught

 

[tigersab]

Noah Balta is the League's intercept mark king​

Noah Balta

21

Noah Balta

Age

24

Ht

194cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.8

2star

K

6.7

3star

HB

3.1

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

1.9

4star

MG

236.3

4star

D

12.0

3star

K

6.7

3star

HB

5.3

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

0.3

1star

MG

233.0

4star

D

7.0

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

2.0

2star

M

1.8

2star

T

1.8

4star

MG

217.4

4star

had a few years where he was constantly thrown from one end of the field to the other, but he has well and truly been settled in the backline this season. He'll turn 24 in October and is just starting to enter his prime as a key tall, but he is already averaging 15.4 disposals and 4.2 intercept marks a match, with his previous best being 13.1 and 2.5 in 2021. That intercept mark count is the highest in the League, ahead of Darcy Moore

30

Darcy Moore

Age

28

Ht

203cm

Wt

100kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.1

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

4.1

3star

M

4.8

5star

T

1.6

4star

MG

169.1

3star

D

13.9

3star

K

7.3

3star

HB

6.6

4star

M

4.9

5star

T

0.7

1star

MG

182.0

3star

D

6.8

2star

K

4.2

2star

HB

2.6

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

1.8

4star

MG

87.4

2star

, Charlie Ballard

10

Charlie Ballard

Age

25

Ht

196cm

Wt

95kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.9

3star

K

8.8

3star

HB

3.1

3star

M

4.7

4star

T

1.2

3star

MG

185.6

3star

D

11.3

3star

K

7.7

3star

HB

3.6

2star

M

4.9

5star

T

1.3

2star

MG

158.9

3star

D

9.4

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

2.4

3star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.4

4star

MG

156.0

3star

, Harris Andrews

31

Harris Andrews

Age

27

Ht

202cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.8

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

5.6

5star

T

1.6

4star

MG

151.7

2star

D

17.0

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

8.0

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.0

3star

D

9.8

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

4.8

4star

M

3.4

4star

T

1.6

4star

MG

94.0

2star

and Sam Taylor

15

Sam Taylor

Age

25

Ht

198cm

Wt

95kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.0

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

5.4

4star

M

3.3

3star

T

2.1

4star

MG

130.5

2star

D

8.0

2star

K

2.5

1star

HB

5.5

3star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.5

3star

MG

60.8

1star

D

8.6

3star

K

3.0

1star

HB

5.6

4star

M

1.2

2star

T

2.8

5star

MG

110.8

2star

. While he'll have to see off some stiff competition to earn an All-Australian position, could a spot in the squad be on the cards?
– Sarah Black

 

[Tiger2709]

Noah Balta is the League's intercept mark king​

Noah Balta had a few years where he was constantly thrown from one end of the field to the other, but he has well and truly been settled in the backline this season. He'll turn 24 in October and is just starting to enter his prime as a key tall, but he is already averaging 15.4 disposals and 4.2 intercept marks a match, with his previous best being 13.1 and 2.5 in 2021. That intercept mark count is the highest in the League, ahead of Darcy Moore, Charlie Ballard, Harris Andrews and Sam Taylor. While he'll have to see off some stiff competition to earn an All-Australian position, could a spot in the squad be on the cards?
– Sarah Black

Only 24 best years in front of him, if he can develop his football brain he can be anything.

 

[banana_bus]

Noah Balta is the League's intercept mark king​

Noah Balta had a few years where he was constantly thrown from one end of the field to the other, but he has well and truly been settled in the backline this season. He'll turn 24 in October and is just starting to enter his prime as a key tall, but he is already averaging 15.4 disposals and 4.2 intercept marks a match, with his previous best being 13.1 and 2.5 in 2021. That intercept mark count is the highest in the League, ahead of Darcy Moore, Charlie Ballard, Harris Andrews and Sam Taylor. While he'll have to see off some stiff competition to earn an All-Australian position, could a spot in the squad be on the cards?
– Sarah Black

Watch "Good Guy" Stewart get the AA nod ahead of him

 

[tiger_tough]

Leading the comp for intercept marks, 2nd for intercept possessions, and 3rd for contested marks and is only 23 years old and hasn't played 100 games.

Is a genuine chance to become the best key defender in the comp in the next year or two.

 

[Sir_Loin]

Leading the comp for intercept marks, 2nd for intercept possessions, and 3rd for contested marks and is only 23 years old and hasn't played 100 games.

Is a genuine chance to become the best key defender in the comp in the next year or two.

He’ll get the tiger tax and won’t make the squad. Should be a lock in the team based on those stats

 

[Drunken Wookie]

Watch "Good Guy" Stewart get the AA nod ahead of him

never seen someone so devastated after seriously injuring someone about the prospect of missing weeks.

 

[UncleBob]

Balta is absolutely flying, it's a shame he doesn't get as much help up the field because that's usually the only time he gets caught out.

Dominating at full back but also loves to run like a half back.

 

[GhostofJimJess]

He’ll get the tiger tax and won’t make the squad. Should be a lock in the team based on those stats

If Jack Silvagni was playing exactly like Noah Balta, we all know he'd be a lock for AA. That's how the media heads on that panel work.

 

[Daka]

Probably not going to get into the AA given he has hardly been talked about which is kind of bizarre considering he plays at a big club like Richmond.

Most of the goals he gets kicked on him is when the midfield pressure is poor whenever it's a 50/50 contest he rarely loses.

 

[tiger_tough]

Probably not going to get into the AA given he has hardly been talked about which is kind of bizarre considering he plays at a big club like Richmond.

Most of the goals he gets kicked on him is when the midfield pressure is poor whenever it's a 50/50 contest he rarely loses.

He loses 1 in 4 one-on-ones which is good but not elite. Tylar Young 1 in 8 impressively.

Sam Taylor loses 1 in 15

 

[Morro]

He loses 1 in 4 one-on-ones which is good but not elite. Tylar Young 1 in 8 impressively.

Sam Taylor loses 1 in 15

Yep, as good as Balta has been, he is getting more goals kicked on him than most of the best KPD's. I mentioned this 2 weeks ago.

 

[tony__montana]

He’ll get the tiger tax and won’t make the squad. Should be a lock in the team based on those stats

I agree - I think if he finishes off the season like hes been playing the past few months he'll have to be a lock. Has been incredible

 

[db26]

The gap between his good and worse to far apart really poor a mickey mouse forward toyed him yesterday.

 

[fargothegreat]

The gap between his good and worse to far apart really poor a mickey mouse forward toyed him yesterday.

Both teams' key backs looked like shit yesterday due to the way we were allowing each other to take the ball out of the middle.

 

[Tiges1229]

Didn’t that spud kick 6 on him ?

 

[GhostofJimJess]

Didn’t that spud kick 6 on him ?

I didn't see his last two goals, but goals 3 and 4 were definitely on Young.

Balta usually took Petty only when he was deep forward, and when Gawn etc were there to assist with blocks.

 

[Tiges1229]

I didn't see his last two goals, but goals 3 and 4 were definitely on Young.

Balta usually took Petty only when he was deep forward, and when Gawn etc were there to assist with blocks.

Yeah I thought it was young to someone sajd at the game Balta was on him