Player Watch #21: Noah Balta

[tiger_tough]

Just keep playing him in the ruck. We looked so much more dangerous when he was in there.

He was out reaching Max Gawn

11

Max Gawn

Age

34

Ht

209cm

Wt

110kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.1

4star

K

7.4

3star

HB

6.7

4star

CL

2.8

4star

HO

35.3

5star

D

18.5

4star

K

11.5

4star

HB

7.0

4star

CL

3.5

4star

HO

29.2

5star

D

8.4

3star

K

3.6

2star

HB

4.8

4star

CL

1.0

3star

HO

15.6

5star

at the throw ups.

 

[Mr Magic]

Just keep playing him in the ruck. We looked so much more dangerous when he was in there.

He was out reaching Max Gawn at the throw ups.

i thought Balta was good in the ruck and some of our others good to

Balta was different but handy

 

[sabso]

i thought Balta was good in the ruck and some of our others good to

Balta was different but handy

Balta in the ruck is like speedrunning Mario. Tries to execute the wall jumps, when he does it’s spectacular.

 

[TheDyerLegacy]

Really liked Balta in the ruck.

If Gibcus can came back in, he might have found a new position

 

[Mr Magic]

Really liked Balta in the ruck.

If Gibcus can came back in, he might have found a new position

the new rules might suit Balta

he is not Jackson, but he is a little like Jackson.

Lefau is handy as well and even Faull who is bulky and a little bit of a hulk carries his own a little bit.


down the track RFC might be able to get away without a proper ruck mostly given our hybrid contingent

 

[Profop]

Balta hasn’t got the tank to be a 1st ruck but I do think the cameos work really well. Especially with the new rules

 

[Timothy Luncheon]

Hope we stick with that strategy instead of it being a one-off thing for Gawn

 

[Lunchtime]

Maybe this is Balta's calling? Maybe he is a ruckman? Will get around the ground...is fit enough and then can go forward? Maybe he is the hair apparent to Nankervis in terms of ruck duties long term? Only 26 so he isn't old.

RIchmond won clearances and looked dangerous when he went into the ruck against Melbourne. Getting first hands on the ball is ideal...it was the best Richmond looked all season so far.

 

[Punt Road Feral]

Maybe this is Balta's calling? Maybe he is a ruckman? Will get around the ground...is fit enough and then can go forward? Maybe he is the hair apparent to Nankervis in terms of ruck duties long term? Only 26 so he isn't old.

RIchmond won clearances and looked dangerous when he went into the ruck against Melbourne. Getting first hands on the ball is ideal...it was the best Richmond looked all season so far.

Agreed.
Our start was electric and exciting, you could see the crowd really get behind him even with winning those hit outs and winning some clearances.

It’s ironic fans have called for him to be re-trialled as a ruckman instead of Gray and straight away it was extremely effective.
It definitely should’ve been trialled even for a quarter or so since Nank has gone down but I’m glad it’s now been done.

On a side note, Balta’s brain fades are not as damaging when he’s up the ground (instead of deep back).

 

[All Aust]

Last night he at least drove hard with a knee in the ruck. Big tick. Oppo wary, cautious a game changer.

Can Balta back it up week after week? Who knows? He has fallen into that category of player who plays a gem followed by 5 to 8 average at best. Lets at least get to evens here.

In the current roll, can he remember to ****ing mark the pill? Is 2 things too much?
I'm going to ask for three things. A stretch but anyhow.

Dear Noah, When you finish putting the shits up the best rucks in the comp and screw over oppo defence by pushing through and marking in the forward 50, please kick accurately for goal.

 

[Mr Magic]

Last night he at least drove hard with a knee in the ruck. Big tick. Oppo wary, cautious a game changer.

Can Balta back it up week after week? Who knows? He has fallen into that category of player who plays a gem followed by 5 to 8 average at best. Lets at least get to evens here.

In the current roll, can he remember to ****ing mark the pill? Is 2 things too much?
I'm going to ask for three things. A stretch but anyhow.

Dear Noah, When you finish putting the shits up the best rucks in the comp and screw over oppo defence by pushing through and marking in the forward 50, please kick accurately for goal.

we do not want a injury to Balta.

B alta can't play weak otherwise he will get hurt but at the same time nothing stupid, we want him for a while and he has a few strings to his bow while we are not playing for sheep stations at the moment

 

[Yze does it]

Maybe this is Balta's calling? Maybe he is a ruckman? Will get around the ground...is fit enough and then can go forward? Maybe he is the hair apparent to Nankervis in terms of ruck duties long term? Only 26 so he isn't old.

RIchmond won clearances and looked dangerous when he went into the ruck against Melbourne. Getting first hands on the ball is ideal...it was the best Richmond looked all season so far.

RFC vs MFC
32 38 clearance
11 18 Centre clearance

21 20 stoppage clearance

1 more stoppage clearance than average


18 vs 47 hit outs.


I'd drop Ryan. Le fau to back up ruck. Trainor into the team

 

[Cactus_]

Hats off to him — I’ve bagged this guy a couple times this year — and he just told me to sit the f*** down and shut the f*** up

Awesome game

 

[Hydatina Physis]

Hopefully get a few more games like that going forward.

 

[DustinsGuns]

holy hat he was good.

Don't like Yze, but credit to him realising we have more available assets back than we do forward

 

[Dean3]

Balta probably stamped Samson Ryan's papers today.

 

[Daka]

Can we admit this guy isn't a defender? he is a straight up Ultilty player and plays his best footy when he is thrown around.

 

[Sir_Rancelot]

Balta was immense and I really like the OHB and Balta combo.

 

[Vassp]

holy hat he was good.

Don't like Yze, but credit to him realising we have more available assets back than we do forward

I told him to make the change weeks ago.

 

[Sir_Rancelot]

Balta probably stamped Samson Ryan's papers today.

Let's hope so

 

[thegcat]

3 Votes and after a 1.5 years of turbulence - B.I.T (back in town)

 

[59Stanley]

Good lord he is a handful for backs, mids and rucks. Smashed them all today !

 

[juss]

He's more influential in the ruck than Nank is, at his best Balta is game changing in that position.

 

[Acinath]

Been a while, but I’m sure he played ruck in the VFL as a young bloke and was unreal

 

[_RT_]

Balta and Nankervis could be a very potent 1-2 punch in the ruck when Nankervis does return. I've been a strong advocate about Balta being settled down back, but the last 2 weeks cause a bit of a rethink about that approach. Balta now becomes real X factor in our line up as he can get involved through the middle and will cause match up problems up forward where we can stretch the opposition tall defenders.