Richmond star Noah Balta charged with assault in NSW
By Lachlan Abbott
Richmond footballer Noah Balta has been charged with assault.
NSW Police said officers were called to a sports club in Mulwala – a small town on the Murray River near Yarrawonga – about 12.30am on Monday.
Richmond’s Noah Balta.Credit: AFL Photos
“A 27-year-old man was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics for a laceration to his head and taken to Yarrawonga Hospital in a stable condition,” police said in a statement.
A 25-year-old man, who the Richmond Football Club later confirmed was Balta, was arrested at Mulwala police station shortly before midday on Tuesday.
“He was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and given conditional bail to appear before Corowa Local Court on Thursday, January 30, 2025,” police said.
In a statement, Richmond said the club could make no further comment because the matter was before the courts. “The club has made the AFL aware of the incident.”
An athletic and versatile key-position player, Balta is set to be an integral part of the Tigers’ rebuild in coming years, having signed a seven-year contract extension in October.
With 104 games under his belt, the swingman is one of the few senior players at Richmond entering their prime, after premiership stars Daniel Rioli, Shai Bolton, Liam Baker and Jack Graham all left in the last trade period.
The mass exodus followed the gradual retirement of mainstays of Richmond’s premiership era from 2017 to 2020. The likes of Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt have retired in recent years, precipitating a downturn in the club’s fortunes that led to a wooden spoon last season, giving the Tigers the No.1 pick and a swag of other selections in the 2024 draft.
Balta’s importance in Richmond’s team increased amid the club’s turnover and will likely remain high as young talent takes time to mature.
He often plays on the opposition’s best forward when in defence and is a marking target alongside Tom Lynch in attack. In 2024, he kicked 12 goals and led the club in contested marks.
Balta’s manager, Robbie D’Orazio, declined to comment.
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