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AFLW 2024 - Round 10 - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
Player Watch #21: Noah Balta - Signed Until 2032
- Thread starter Grockadoc
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Alright, once and for bloody all, never again entertain thoughts of this bloke as a key forward. He is an AA-quality key defender, and that's where he must stay permanently, no matter how dire our forward structure is.
Absolutely slaughtered King yesterday, barring that little error for the first goal where King got over the back because Noah had pushed up too high a line too early. From then on, King had a nightmare of a day on Noah - 2 kicks, 0.0. and only 1 mark, and that was well up the ground.
I can stomach the odd very short pinch hit in the ruck when Nank is resting forward or bench, but otherwise make him play the entire game facing our goals. He simply cannot play with his back to our goals ever again.
Yes he has the odd little brain fade which costs us a goal - there was definitely one yesterday with that bad chip across goal to a contest. But he costs us multiple goals when he's in our forward 50 with mistimed leads, poor vision, lack of self belief and a turning circle of a road train. Meanwhile it's raining goals down the other end.
The experiment is over. Again.
Absolutely slaughtered King yesterday, barring that little error for the first goal where King got over the back because Noah had pushed up too high a line too early. From then on, King had a nightmare of a day on Noah - 2 kicks, 0.0. and only 1 mark, and that was well up the ground.
I can stomach the odd very short pinch hit in the ruck when Nank is resting forward or bench, but otherwise make him play the entire game facing our goals. He simply cannot play with his back to our goals ever again.
Yes he has the odd little brain fade which costs us a goal - there was definitely one yesterday with that bad chip across goal to a contest. But he costs us multiple goals when he's in our forward 50 with mistimed leads, poor vision, lack of self belief and a turning circle of a road train. Meanwhile it's raining goals down the other end.
The experiment is over. Again.
Agree with the above but .........................
His skill set is so special. He's as good a contested mark one-on-one as any in the game. He can run probably faster (admittedly straight line only) than anyone else in the team. He can kick longer than anyone else.
Sure - if Lynch comes back next year, he takes the key forward spot, and we don't want to play 2 giants up there.
I still would love to see Balta have an extended run in the ruck - say 8-10 games. I reckon he would be a great around-the-ground weapon.
But - last resort - he's a bloody good key back.
His skill set is so special. He's as good a contested mark one-on-one as any in the game. He can run probably faster (admittedly straight line only) than anyone else in the team. He can kick longer than anyone else.
Sure - if Lynch comes back next year, he takes the key forward spot, and we don't want to play 2 giants up there.
I still would love to see Balta have an extended run in the ruck - say 8-10 games. I reckon he would be a great around-the-ground weapon.
But - last resort - he's a bloody good key back.
- Feb 14, 2014
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Think we need to experiment with him off the half back flank
Mr E Tiger
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- May 21, 2024
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If we can all see and have been saying all season, play Noah down back, why the **** can’t our esteemed coaching staff see that too???? The way he dismantled King was excellent (we won’t mention the early up rush of blood). I’d rather he was stopping goals than scoring them and give the young kids down back something to build around now that Grimes has gone. I hope Vlaussy isn’t going anywhere anytime soon as he and Balta are the scaffolding for our defensive set up, especially if D Rioli heads up north
TJTIGER
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Noah spoke really well on the club website & has leader written all over him! Loved how he spoke about the need to play as a team and the wins would come & how he shy’d away from self focus early in the video!! Came across as very genuine & thoughtful.
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Ctl
Premiership Player
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Richmond is also in negotiations around a long-term deal for versatile key-position player Noah Balta before he arrives at his free agency season next year.
www.afl.com.au
The Fog, Bont, Rayner headline long list of 2025 free agents
Clubs will be scrambling for some big-name signatures as almost 100 players head towards being on the market
www.afl.com.au
- Feb 14, 2014
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Thought this thread being bumped was going to be the annual, "Balta can be the next full forward" delusion.
Noah will be a very wealthy man staying a tiger , very
TJTIGER
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Agree, given where we are developmentally I’d think we could close to match most offers tabled for him?
*Also I wouldn’t discount potential future Captain either….
Match , I’d suggest it will be the highest
If people are paying 900k for Battle and Perryman they surely be offering 1.4 or so for Balta. The easiest way to get players is via FA so you massively overpay.
- Nov 28, 2017
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That's not how you win Premierships, I don't care if Balta is better, he is a 800k max player for me.
Anymore than that and I am letting him go to free agency.
$800k is like about $550k around 4 years go. Balta is worth more than that. He is worth $1m per season to us in the current cap. If another club goes nuts too far above that and Balta wants it matched then take the compensation, likely to be a very high pick, and probably grab another couple of top 4 picks at the 2025 draft.
I think he will sign a long term deal on around $900k-$1m per season guaranteed, and stay.
Nostradumbass
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That's low balling him.
- Nov 28, 2017
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no 800k is 800k and that's as much I think he is worth. maybe he can get front ended deal where he earns over 1 million a year but over the journey, I think it should be 800k, he isn't much better than our other defender he intercepts better but he makes a lot of mistakes for a key defender.
Balta does make mistakes and get caught out, but many of the best key defenders do that these days. He has more weapons than most if not all other key defenders. He is very strong, fast, and a booming kick, and in a good functioning team could be a massive asset.
I definitely wouldn't stop at $800k, there is a chance you lose him and don't get an early pick if that was our offer. That would be a complete disaster.
- Nov 28, 2017
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After seeing what St Kilda got for Battle this year.
If we play our cards right & finish bottom again we could get the number #2 pick in the draft for letting Balta go.
If we play our cards right & finish bottom again we could get the number #2 pick in the draft for letting Balta go.
Dr Tigris
Brownlow Medallist
Keep him. He's too good and important o lose for a draft pick.
We'll have already lost so much experience and leadership this year I'd hate to lose Noah as well.
- Apr 27, 2014
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Another shit season like this year and constantly being moved from BL to Ruck to Forward he will go for a first round pick.
Pick 1 & 2 coming to Richmond in 2025.
- Nov 28, 2017
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I honestly think we would stupid to re-sign him. should do what North did with McKay and not put deal on the table.
He will get massive offers from clubs.
Pick 2 is much better than him. people can go on all they want about how good he is... he is not that good!
He will get massive offers from clubs.
Pick 2 is much better than him. people can go on all they want about how good he is... he is not that good!
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- Mar 1, 2010
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Richmond is also in negotiations around a long-term deal for versatile key-position player Noah Balta before he arrives at his free agency season next year.
The Fog, Bont, Rayner headline long list of 2025 free agents
Clubs will be scrambling for some big-name signatures as almost 100 players head towards being on the market
well that sounds stupid.
we want FA compo next year and build for our next premiership
