Noah Balta shouldn’t play AFL until he’s sentenced according to the lawyer representing his assault victim

Richmond has been called out for poor handling of the Noah Balta situation as the victim’s lawyer revealed his client’s thoughts on the player’s return.

The lawyer representing the man punched by Richmond defender Noah Balta has declared it would be “appropriate” that he not play in the AFL until his sentencing despite his club-imposed suspension coming to an end after the AFL handballed responsibility for a decision to the Tigers.

Balta was given a four-match ban after pleading guilty to assaulting Thomas Washbrook in NSW last December and will be sentenced on April 22.

The charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm carries a maximum penalty of five years in jail.

Balta was overlooked for selection for Sunday’s Gather Round clash but has one more chance to return to the AFL before his sentencing.

While Washbrook’s lawyer John Suta told ABC radio that his client was happy for Balta to “get on with his life”, he said it would be “appropriate” that he didn’t play AFL until after he was sentenced.

“My client is of the opinion that he (Balta) has made a mistake,” Suta said.

“He appropriately made admissions, confessed, has undertaken educational courses and is genuinely remorseful and should be able to get on with his life.”

CCTV of Noah Balta assaulting a man outside a Mulwala club. Picture: Supplied.

Earlier this week, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said it was up to Richmond to decide when Balta should play, while outgoing AFL Players’ Association chief executive Paul Marsh said Balta had “a right to play” after serving his ban.

But triple-premiership hero Riewoldt said the situation “could have been handled better”.

“The Tigers let this bubble along for so long,” Riewoldt said on Nova.

“I would have loved to have seen them come out early on and say, ‘Look, he wasn’t going to play this week because it’s just stayed in the media for all the wrong reasons’.

“And then you get a whole bunch of other people grabbing hold of it, sort of not politicising it, but actually using it to make comments.

“So look, it’s an unfortunate situation for all parties involved.

“And I think it maybe could have been handled a little bit better, but we live and learn.”

Balta last year signed a seven-year contract with the Tigers.