Noah Balta - Does he have the AFL's rarest skill set?

[Elmer_Hauser]

In terms of providing constant comedy relief, Balta is in a category all of his own

 

[Caligo]

I actually think Paddy Dow might have the AFL's rarest skill set.

He is arguably the BEST centre clearance player in the AFL. Literally: whlie his stats are a bit skewed by being a sub, when you adjust for time on ground his average center clearances per game of 3.7 is the highest in the league (ahead of Darcy Parish at 3.56, Lachie Neale and 3.52 and daylight after that). As a support to this, in 2019 (the last time he really played as a mid) the top 3 center clearance combos in the league were Cripps + Dow + anyone...

He also has a nice shimmy in traffic.

But every other AFL skill I would say is below average for a midfielder, and this is borne out by the stats on the AFL website where he is below average in 9 categories and 'average' in 2. Kicking... improved a lot, but below average. Handballs - meh. Tackling - god awful. Running power - ordinary. Goal-kicking - meh. And get this: his total clearance rate (ie: center bounces + other stoppages) is league average. If you take out center clearances from that, he is a bog ordinary stoppage player.

He honestly makes me think of an AFL computer game create-a-player where the human put every available point into center clearances but left the sliders at their starting position for literally everything else. Most other skills have improved slightly over time but the player has just kept stacking points into center clearances just to see what happens.

I wouldn't say this is the 'best' skillset in the league. It might even be the worst... or at least the most frustrating.

But you have to admit is is pretty 'rare'... makes him a handy sub, too - come on in the last quarter, turbo-charge center clearances (always good for field position in the last term) and his other skills get compared to fatigued opponents so less of an issue.

Athletic KP players who can play both ends of the ground = a dime a dozen in comparison. More useful, sure, but less 'rare'.

Underrated post. There are quite a few players with one extreme talent and a real lack of others, but gosh Dow is a supreme example.

 

[FISTO]

Looks right at home as depth for a bottom 6 side

 

[Lingsface]

Underrated post. There are quite a few players with one extreme talent and a real lack of others, but gosh Dow is a supreme example.

Underrated post haha you only gave it about 15 mins.

 

[Mr Meow]

The way he hit the post from 15m out was unique.

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

The Balta forward line experiment has to end.

He is a back man full stop, who can occasionally pinch hit in the ruck.

 

[Grin]

The Balta forward line experiment has to end.

He is a back man full stop, who can occasionally pinch hit in the ruck.

I am in total agreement.

 

[hawkman]

Elite skills

 

[Chism]

Was only a matter of time till this thread was bumped!

 

[Chism]

Noah Balta is a flag winning KPD that can pinch hit in the ruck, this year he has become an elite FWD/Ruck.

Is there any player in the AFL that can play Ruck, KPD and KPF at an elite level?

 

[VinnieB]

Noah Balta is a flag winning KPD that can pinch hit in the ruck, this year he has become an elite FWD/Ruck.

Is there any player in the AFL that can play Ruck, KPD and KPF at an elite level?

Not with the IQ of a 14 year old.

 

[Cleansweep17]

In fairness he was one of our best players last night though. In both fwd, def and ruck. He’s been getting better each year

 

[hawkman]

In fairness he was one of our best players last night though. In both fwd, def and ruck. He’s been getting better each year

He was good in the ruck. He still isn't a forward though.

 

[WillHayward]

Finally Tigers supporters on here are going to have to concede they won't rebuild "on the run" and their yoof aren't very good.

Full rebuild required.

 

[blaisee]

Kinda strange that feral haters would bump this thread after last night

Turned the game in the ruck kicked a goal , at the very least the coach agreed with me

Haters gunna hate

 

[boncer34]

Kinda strange that feral haters would bump this thread after last night

Turned the game in the ruck kicked a goal , at the very least the coach agreed with me

Haters gunna hate

Agreed by not putting him in the best?

 

[Cleansweep17]

He was good in the ruck. He still isn't a forward though.

We’ll see what Richmond does with him. I really don’t know what they are thinking anymore.

 

[Cleansweep17]

Finally Tigers supporters on here are going to have to concede they won't rebuild "on the run" and their yoof aren't very good.

Full rebuild required.

Rebuild on the run is a myth. It’s just delaying the inevitable.

You can’t have a flag winning core group of players without multiple top 5/top 10 picks.

 

[blaisee]

Agreed by not putting him in the best?

Coaches don’t select the best players in the paper mate, you can be better than that

 

[juss]

He's actually showing some promising signs when used correctly.

We know he can play as an intercept defender.

He doesn't really look a KPF but I expect he'll improve in that role as he plays it more.

He's a pretty dynamic ruck though and when he goes into the middle he makes a very positive impact for our team.

Perhaps 2nd ruck 40% of the game and intercept defender the other 40% would be his best output and highest impact.

 

[Meteoric Rise]

Richmond has time to explore the possibilities fully with Balta. He has weapons, everybody can see that, he and the club just need to learn how best to utilise them. Lynch likely back this week changes things quite a bit. Balta lacks forward craft at this point but he was playing a new role, in a very new forward line, under new coaches, and with poor supply yesterday. It seems the club will stick the course this year with Balta forward/ruck and the success or otherwise of this move will be best judged after this season.

 

[blaisee]

This thread has gone a bit quiet

This thread will end up being a lot like the shai Bolton

29

Shai Bolton

Age

25

Ht

176cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.3

3star

K

6.9

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.9

4star

CL

1.4

4star

D

12.7

3star

K

9.2

4star

HB

3.5

2star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.7

4star

CL

1.8

4star

D

9.2

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

4.6

4star

M

2.0

3star

T

2.6

4star

CL

0.0

1star

thread

First they laughed

Then they argued, poorly

Then they went quiet

Balta can do everything on a football field , has at least one brain fade per game , just like Alex rance

Alex Rance

Age

35

Ht

194cm

Wt

95kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.6

4star

K

8.9

3star

HB

7.7

5star

M

5.7

5star

T

2.4

4star

MG

226.9

3star

No current season stats available

D

17.0

5star

K

5.8

3star

HB

11.2

5star

M

5.0

5star

T

3.6

5star

, but this bloke may end up a better more valuable footballer .

Superstar

 

[Mr Meow]

This thread has gone a bit quiet

This thread will end up being a lot like the shai Bolton thread

First they laughed

Then they argued, poorly

Then they went quiet

Balta can do everything on a football field , has at least one brain fade per game , just like Alex rance , but this bloke may end up a better more valuable footballer .

Superstar

Since you bring up Bolton:

He was bloody terrible and with 1% composure would've won you the match in the last 10 seconds.

 

[juss]

He's actually showing some promising signs when used correctly.

We know he can play as an intercept defender.

He doesn't really look a KPF but I expect he'll improve in that role as he plays it more.

He's a pretty dynamic ruck though and when he goes into the middle he makes a very positive impact for our team.

Perhaps 2nd ruck 40% of the game and intercept defender the other 40% would be his best output and highest impact.

Following on from this post last week, he continues to impress. Might have had 4 or 5 goals if he didn't have to shift behind the ball in the second half, but he was dynamic there too taking a couple of good marks and providing some important rebound and strong defensive contests.

Mackay was very good forward, but I thought Balta overall was the best big man on the ground today.

Just keep developing him in that ruck/ KPP role, and keep trying to educate him on those brain fades.

It's not easy in the one game to play well and influence forward, ruck, defence. Sure it's been done before but it takes a good player.

 

[hawkman]

This thread has gone a bit quiet

This thread will end up being a lot like the shai Bolton thread

First they laughed

Then they argued, poorly

Then they went quiet

Balta can do everything on a football field , has at least one brain fade per game , just like Alex rance , but this bloke may end up a better more valuable footballer .

Superstar

You started this thread after he had a couple of games where he kicked a few goals. Then a few games later everyone realised he was actually a rubbish forward

He had a good game tonight but he wasn't great as a forward last week (was good in the ruck). If he could keep backing that up over half a season then you may have a point. I suspect due to injuries we may be seeing more down back though now