A significant consequence followed the December assault involving Richmond AFL player Noah Balta, though a prison sentence was avoided. This morning at the Albury Local Court, he received a Community Corrections Order alongside a strict 10:00 PM curfew, lasting for three months.
“”Your Honour can see he becomes fully airborne and travels a metre or a metre-and-a-half,” Prosecutor Jason Tozer stated during proceedings, referencing CCTV footage of the incident. “It is only sheer luck that his head did not make contact with that concrete.” The court heard details of an altercation on December 30th in Mulwala, NSW Riverina, where Balta, aged 25, forcefully attacked another man.
The victim sustained a serious head injury requiring hospitalization and the prosecution emphasized the precarious nature of his survival, describing it as “sheer luck” that death was averted. The CCTV evidence clearly depicted Balta bringing the victim to the ground before engaging in repeated physical assaults.
Despite missing the initial matches of the season due to a suspension stemming from this incident, Balta made a notable return for Richmond’s surprising victory against the Gold Coast Suns over the weekend.
The defense acknowledged the gravity of the offense while suggesting it fell within a range of moderate crimes. However, the prosecution maintained that the attack warranted classification as a high-level offence due to the severity of the injuries and Balta’s actions.
Character witnesses painted a different picture of the player, describing him as “a kind, caring gentle giant.” Defence lawyer Belinda Franjic asserted, “It’s quite clear this offence is completely and utterly out of character for Mr Balta,” highlighting the unusual nature of the event relative to his established personality.
Balta has been formally convicted of the assault and faces a $3000 fine alongside the alcohol ban stipulated within the Community Corrections Order. Further updates are anticipated.
