Richmond has suspended Noah Balta for four games after off-field incident

The Richmond gun who signed a massive contract last season will miss the beginning of 2025 as he awaits a court date in NSW.

Richmond has suspended swingman Noah Balta for the opening four games of the 2025 AFL season following an off-season incident that has led to him being charged with assault.

Balta returned to the club for pre-season training on Thursday following the alleged late-night incident at a sports club in Mulwala, near the New South Wales and Victoria border, in early December, but didn’t answer questions from media.

The incident was referred to the AFL integrity until and the Tigers went first with their own club-imposed penalty hours after the players filtered back into the club.

Balta, 25, who has played 104 games for the Tigers, will also miss both pre-season matches, complete education programming and undertake counselling, but will continue to train at the club having been given a stern warning from club officials about the “seriousness of the incident”.

“Noah deeply regrets being involved in the incident. He has assisted the NSW Police in their investigation and he is keen to have the matter concluded as soon as possible,”” Richmond CEO Shane Dunne said.

Richmond football club. Noah Balta on the field. Thursday, January 9. 2025. Picture: David Crosling

“While the outcome of the investigation and the charge will be a matter for the Police and the Courts both Noah and the Club accept that players can’t put themselves in these situations.

“After thorough consideration - which included discussions with the player leadership group - we arrived at a decision that reflects the seriousness of the incident and at the same time will help Noah address this behaviour.

“The Club will continue to support him through this period and our collective hope, and expectation, is that we will see the best of Noah on and off the field from this point on.”

Balta was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and is set to appear before Corowa Local Court on Thursday 30 January after the incident which left a 27-year-old man with a laceration to his head and he taken to Yarrawonga Hospital for treatment.

The incident comes just months after the 25-year-old put pen to paper on a mammoth seven year contract extension that will keep him at Punt Road until the end of 2032.

Originally published as Richmond has suspended Noah Balta for four games after off-field incident