'Dig in': Noah Balta told to earn back Richmond teammates' trust after off season incident
Updated . First published at
Richmond has requested suspended player Noah Balta "dig in" despite being sidelined for the first month of their 2025 campaign.
The Tigers handed the defender a four match suspension for an off-season incident that led to him being charged with assault by police.
The 2020 premiership player handed himself into NSW police during the Christmas break, after an incident that left another man in hospital due to a cut to his head.
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Tigers assistant coach Steve Morris revealed what the club has asked the 27-year-old to do in order to win back the trust of his teammates.
"We've asked him to really dig in into his training over the last little bit (of pre-season)," Morris said on Friday.
Noah Balta of the Tigers has been training during the pre season despite his suspension. Getty
And Balta has been attempting to make up for his mistakes already.
"What I've seen is a guy who is really committed to earning the trust of his teammates and he's put everything out on the table over the last few weeks, doing extra sessions," Morris said.
"He knows he's got to get himself red-hot fit, he's a really important player to our team and our club.
Noah Balta has been suspended for a month. via Getty Images
"I think he's doing a really good job under the circumstances he's facing."
Balta's suspension will rule him out of the Tigers' first four games of their 2025 campaign, which kicks off in round one against Carlton at the MCG.
He will be eligible for selection for the Tigers' round five match against Fremantle.
