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AFLW 2024 - Round 10 - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
Noah Balta - Does he have the AFL's rarest skill set?
- Thread starter blaisee
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Only because Lynch is injured and we have virtually no KPF's available. With only Kosi traded in for a 3rd rounder and Lefau as a rookie (now ACL) to really compete in the forward line.
It's an indictment on the club that we have no other options.
I had been wondering for months if Brown could be useful in the forward line and I'm glad the club finally threw him forward with some genuine promise, but alas, he is also now injured.
Josh Weddle is actually the man that people hoped Balta would be.
Nah, different player. Weddle is in the Blakey mould, might even be better than him soon.
Back, fwd and can play on ball . Has played Ruck.
Isn't that what this thread is about? Blokes who can play back, fwd and ruck?
Weddle has actually done that.
I don't recall Blakey ever playing Ruck.
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hawkman
Hall of Famer
Not exactly a key tall back but has occasionally done it. Kicked 10 goals but nearly all of those are from drifting forward from half back or the ruck. Hasn't played much forward
Point is he could. And he's a better all round footballer than Balta.
Standing next to Weddle he is athletically big. Recall during the draft combine he was top 10 in the standing vertical jump, running vertical jump, 20m sprint and 2km time trial. Over the next decade this kid will become Mr Fix it for the Hawks can also play him in the middle or on a wing. Not sure if Balta or Blakey could do this
No, but Balta plays on Charlie Dixon and the like. He is basically a very mobile almost 100kg player, which is rare. Other smaller or leaner players are obviously more mobile and more running types, but would have no chance on the gorillas, sorry Charlie. Balta is also pretty handy in the ruck and more than handy when the ball hits the ground.
Balta should never be played forward - hopefully that's the last we ever see of that failed experiment. He just seems to struggle with his back towards goal and frequently mistimes his lead.
AA quality defender though, and regularly demolishes oppo KPFs. Useful as a pinch hit in the ruck, but defensive 50 is his natural habitat.
AA quality defender though, and regularly demolishes oppo KPFs. Useful as a pinch hit in the ruck, but defensive 50 is his natural habitat.
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You know Weddle is 96kg's right?
And is 192cm. Very athletic build, but is not going to take the really big forwards, why would you, which is where Balta is a bit different. Weddle is a star by the way and closer to a mid/wing these days than back.
hawkman
Hall of Famer
Richmond getting another 7 years of his rare skill. They might finally work out by then he isn't a forward
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Well the good news is tigers won’t have pick 1 and 2
If Balta left next year
If Balta left next year
Gee, clubs really are getting dumber.
You literally have the Clayton Oliver situation right there(+ previous issues with Brodie Grundy, Adam Treloar, etc) and Richmond go and do this.
So, so dumb.
I can't imagine anyone else was offering him a similar contract they had to match to keep him.
You literally have the Clayton Oliver situation right there(+ previous issues with Brodie Grundy, Adam Treloar, etc) and Richmond go and do this.
So, so dumb.
I can't imagine anyone else was offering him a similar contract they had to match to keep him.
hawkman
Hall of Famer
And if another club did offer that sort of contract they are looking at 2 top 5 picks next year and potentially picks 1 and 2
Yep, dumb as **** our contracts.....
Meanwhile, in trade developments, Kane Toad reports the AFL world is in meltdown at how much Fremantle and Gold Coast are going to have to pay to secure Richmond's long contracted players.
Hmmm, do all those first round draft picks go into consolidated revenue, or do they just go directly to Firstroundpickmond?
LOL.
Also, nothing like Grundy and Treloar. Quite clearly we're not going to have any cap issues for a long, long time. Couldn't be much further from that horrendous example.
The Tom Lynch and Dustin Martin long term contracts worked out okay....
You don't contract players to have them walk out the door. Can make it difficult if they dig their heels in though.Yep, dumb as **** our contracts.....
Meanwhile, in trade developments, Kane Toad reports the AFL world is in meltdown at how much Fremantle and Gold Coast are going to have to pay to secure Richmond's long contracted players.
Hmmm, do all those first round draft picks go into consolidated revenue, or do they just go directly to Firstroundpickmond?
You'd also get more if they were free agents, as evidenced by Josh Battle and Ben McKay in the past 2 years.
Tom Lynch getting paid $1.5m next year and can't even get on the park 'working out' for you? Yes, helped with the 2 flags but now you're stuck paying a bloke who will barely play and you can't even trade him out.
There goes any money to bring in any decent players with some of the picks Richmond are reported to be potentially getting.
4x premiership players out the door, 3 of them in your top 5 B&F, with a bunch of unproven talent to replace them.
There's not one club this millennium that's had a happy outcome going down that road.
Great idea, don't contract any of your players for more than 1 year so they are all free agents every year.
Now I wonder why no club has thought of that before?
Which club went down that road exactly?
I'd say 5 years is probably the maximum a player should be considering, unless they have a career start like Daicos and sign through to FA.Great idea, don't contract any of your players for more than 1 year so they are all free agents every year.
Now I wonder why no club has thought of that before?
Sure, players want security but anything more than 5 is irresponsible, IMO.
