Fate of Tigers star Noah Balta unclear amid assault charges during incident at Mulwala
Questions remain over whether Tigers star Noah Balta will return to pre-season training after he was slapped with assault charges over a late-night incident at Mulwala.
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Richmond has not made a call on whether Noah Balta will be stood down from pre-season training or games following assault charges.
Balta was charged with assaulting a man, who was injured so badly he was hospitalised, in a late-night incident at a sports club on the Victoria-NSW border on December 30.
Paramedics treated the 27-year-old alleged victim for a cut to the head before he had to be taken to Yarrawonga Hospital on the Victorian side of the Murray River for treatment.
The premiership defender was arrested at Mulwala police station at 11.30am the next day.
Balta will now be required to front court on a count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in the midst of Richmond’s pre-season training, which he may or may not take part in when the club returns from its festive break between January 9-13.
It has been common for AFL clubs to suspend players from training or matches following assault charges but there is no league-wide mandate for teams to banish players.
Collingwood banished Jordan De Goey from entering the club in October, 2021 after he was charged with forcible touching and assault following a New York party.
De Goey was welcomed back into the Magpie fold and played in the 2023 premiership after eventually pleading guilty to a downgraded charge of harassment over the New York incident with the forcible touching charge dropped.
Sydney stood Elijah Taylor down in September, 2020 following aggravated assault charges and the youngster didn’t play for the Swans again after he pleaded guilty and received a spent conviction.
Fremantle did not suspend veteran defender Michael Johnson when he was charged with assault in late 2016.
He played through the entire 2017 season and was found guilty of assault and fined in November of that year but played the final season of his career in 2018 without any club ban.
Richmond premiership player Marlion Pickett was charged with robbery offences in late 2023 but played through 2024 without a club ban. He has indicated he will plead not guilty.
Balta’s manager Robbie D’Orazio has been contacted for comment.
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