Richmond and the AFL are blasted by Channel 7 stars over Noah Balta’s ban – as the Tigers star faces possible jail time for assault: ‘You can’t play him’

Caroline Wilson and Craig Hutchison have torn into Richmond and the AFL after it was announced that Noah Balta would be allowed to return to play footy.

The 25-year-old defender pleaded guilty to assault of a man outside Mulwala Water Ski Club and is set to be sentenced on April 22 for the incident which took place in December 2024.

Balta was suspended by Richmond for four games this season, with the AFL subsequently approving the sanction.

His ban is due to expire this weekend with Balta now eligible to return to play in the Tigers’ Round 5 clash against Fremantle on April 13.

League boss Andrew Dillon has, meanwhile, asserted that he was ‘comfortable’ in allowing Balta to return to action before being sentenced. Tigers boss Adam Yze has also said that a six-game suspension was a ‘fair whack’. 

But some have expressed concerns over the matter. 

Caroline Wilson and Craig Hutchison have torn into Richmond and the AFL after it was announced that Noah Balta (pictured) would be allowed to return to play footy

Balta (second from right) is pictured outside Corowa Local Court after he pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm

‘I’m so surprised that Richmond and the game’s head office was sticking to their guns today when they said that (Balta) would play with their blessing,’ Wilson told Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters.

‘Frankly, I don’t believe it. [And] Balta was not suspended for six senior games. He was suspended for four after his attack, after his bashing of Thomas Washbrook at Mulwala, 27, on December 30.

‘I’m sure Richmond nor the AFL had seen the vision of what happened before they handed down that suspension… Balta and his not-so-perfect history really shouldn’t play at least until after April 22 when he’s sentenced, although that takes us to Anzac Day Eve against Melbourne at the MCG and that stage, too, feels (too big) for a player who committed, in the words of police, a wild assault.’

‘Even if he gets off on April 22 with a fine or a community service act, the game should have been far tougher on a player who committed such a violent act.’

Wilson added: ‘I don’t know why they keep saying six weeks. It was four senior games, and I am convinced… they’ll say he has to do more training or that he won’t be ready. You can’t play him in the Barossa game.

‘And I’m not sure you can play him at Easter, and I’m not sure you can play him on Anzac eve. So wait until after he’s been sentenced.’

Hutchison concurred with Wilson, adding: ‘I agree. There’s no way that Richmond or the AFL had seen that vision when they signed off on that sanction because those two things don’t line up.

‘It’s OK to say how we didn’t know, we weren’t aware, and we’re gonna take him out of the field of play until the courts (make a decision) one way or the other.’

Caroline Wilson (pictured) argued that the club should wait until after Balta’s been sentenced to play him

Craig Hutchison (second from right) concurred with Wilson (left) while they spoke about the ban on The Agenda Setters

The man who was allegedly assaulted by Balta appeared bloodied in a video taken after the incident

Dillon though, said that the AFL would not be stepping in before Balta’s sentencing.

‘By the time Noah is eligible to play again he would have served a four-week AFL suspension as well as missing a couple of weeks of practice matches,’ the AFL CEO said on Tuesday.

‘Ultimately it will be a decision from Richmond, whether they select him straight into the AFL or into the VFL side.

‘We have worked with Richmond and we’re comfortable with the suspension and the suspension that Noah has served… we’re comfortable with where Richmond landed on that one.’

Balta appeared in Corowa Local Court charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. If found guilty, the charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in jail.

Prosecutors told the court that Washbrook had required treatment in hospital due to the head injuries he sustained in the incident.

Jason Tozer, of the prosecution, had told the court on March 27 that Washbrook could have been killed.

‘Your Honour can see he (the victim) becomes fully airborne and travels a metre or a metre-and-a-half,’ Sergeant Tozer told the court.

Per the AFL and Richmond’s sanction, Balta is now free to return to play for the Tigers in their Round 5 clash against Fremantle on April 13

‘It is only sheer luck that his head did not make contact with that concrete.’

The court was shown CCTV footage which shows Balta run out of the club and shoulder-charge Washbrook, knocking him to the ground.

Court documents state Balta punched Washbrook’s head two to three times and assisted his brother by holding the man down.

Balta punched Washbrook twice more in the head before he was pulled away from the victim, who was bleeding from a three-centimetre head wound.

His defence team admitted to the court the incident was serious, but argued the assault was at the higher end of a mid-level offence.

Belinda Franjic, counsel for the Richmond star, told the court the offence was ‘completely and utterly out of character’ for the AFL star.

Balta had admitted drinking significant amounts of alcohol on the day of the offending and reacted to seeing his younger brother in a confrontation, the court was told.

The 25-year-old had shown genuine remorse and sought professional help to address his behaviour, Franjic said.

Meanwhile, Balta has reached a confidential settlement with Washbrook, who was forced to take time off work at the Wangaratta Council because of his injuries.

The settlement was reached after the Richmond player was sued for pain and suffering as well as medical expenses.

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