By Danny Russell and Grant McArthur
The man Noah Balta assaulted in a drunken and unprovoked attack believes the Richmond star is worthy of a second chance.
Balta broke his silence on the incident late on Wednesday, issuing an apology to the man he assaulted and vowing to be a better person a day after he was sentenced over the incident in southern NSW.
Thomas Washbrook, 27, was hospitalised with a cut to the head and a broken rib after being repeatedly punched by the Richmond defender outside Mulwala Water Ski Club on December 30 last year.
On Tuesday Balta escaped a jail term over the attack but, after pleading guilty, was sentenced to an 18-month community corrections order including an alcohol ban and a nighttime curfew that will cause him to miss at least four AFL matches.
The curfew means that Balta will miss at least four AFL matches, including Thursday night’s Anzac Day eve clash against Melbourne and the Dreamtime at the G match against Essendon in round 11.
While Washbrook declined to speak to the media following Balta’s sentencing, he has since released a short statement through his lawyer, John Suta.
“He said to me, ‘There’s nothing wrong with making a mistake, but there’s a lot wrong with making a mistake twice. I don’t reckon he’s ever going to do it again, and he’s learnt from it’,” Suta said on Wednesday.
Albury Local Court found that Washbrook had been waiting for a courtesy bus when he stepped in to try and diffuse a verbal altercation between Balta’s brother Oskar and another man, before being knocked to the ground by the Richmond premiership star and punched up to six times in the head.
After the attack, Washbrook, who lives in Yarrawonga and works for Wangaratta Council, sued Balta for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, medical expenses and aggravated damages. Balta settled the civil case last month by paying Washbrook $45,000.
Magistrate Melissa Humphreys sentenced Balta, 25, to an 18-month community corrections order and fined him $3000. Conditions attached to the order impose a three-month curfew on Balta, during which the footballer is confined to his house between 10pm and 6am until July 22.
Noah Balta apologised to the victim of his assault in a video published on the Richmond FC website.Credit: Richmond FC
Balta is also not allowed to drink alcohol during the curfew period, is banned from the Mulwala Water Ski Club and must undergo an educational program for self-control.
In his apology Balta, who was not wearing any Richmond apparel in the video, described his behaviour as “stupid”.
“Violence is never the answer. I was under the influence, and made a judgement call which was stupid of myself,” he said.
“[The focus is now] definitely working on myself – things to control, what I can control really. Stop drinking, and this is going to go for another 18 months.
“For the last three months I’ve tried to get myself better, become better to help myself.
“While I’m here I want to take the time to thank my family and friends for always being there supporting me, the club and also the Tiger army.”
Nick Papas, KC, a former chief magistrate and crown prosecutor, said being able to tailor the conditions of a community corrections order to address the underlying cause of a person’s offending was an important option for magistrates.
“Sentences of this type are not unusual and are intended to achieve the balance between immediate punishment, recognition of who the person is and the fact they may have been of good character, and that maybe there might have been an underlying cause,” Papas said.
Matt and Robyn Cronin this month. Their youngest son Pat, 19, died from a fatal punch thrown in a bar brawl in 2016.Credit: Eddie Jim
“Magistrates can, and sometimes do, impose these types of orders with conditions, so it is not just a get-out-of-jail-free card.”
Matt Cronin, whose son Pat Cronin died after being hit with a coward punch in 2016, said that while Richmond and the AFL got it wrong in allowing Balta to play before his sentencing, the magistrate got it right.
“It sends a massive message from the magistrate,” he said.
“It’s not about hanging Noah out to dry and saying he is never going to play again, but it is about accepting the consequences of your actions, and he will go down in history now [for the assault].”
Cronin said he planned to meet with the AFL next week with the Pat Cronin Foundation to discuss ways it can help raise community awareness of the dangers of assaults.
Having criticised Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan for being critical of the AFL and Richmond for allowing Balta to play before his sentencing, Gold Coast Suns coach Damien Hardwick on Wednesday doubled down following the outcome.
“All I want it to be is really hard on crime,” the Suns coach said on Wednesday in a response to a question from an ABC journalist.
“Less talk, more action [from] magistrates, premiers, less talking, less chest-beating, more getting to work and getting it done.
“We as taxpayers demand it, you as a taxpayer-funded organisation, ABC, should be demanding more of it.
“Less questioning me, more questioning premiers.”
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