We had the highest season score in '22.
We didnt have a problem last year when we had Big Tom fronting up for games
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Noah Balta - Welcome to Tigerland
- Thread starter RICHO_12
- Start date
We didnt have a problem last year when we had Big Tom fronting up for games
Defo agree
Lynch Balta Dusty Bolton Cumberland Clarke is a balanced forward line which screams high scores.
That we can use Balta as a relief ruck means we dont need a Miller or 2nd lumbering ruck. And we dont need Pickett as a defensive aerial fwd.
So true Tlovey.
I cant remember the last time I saw a Broad Flossy or Grimes fly over the pack as a 3rd tall. Its used to happen a ridiculous amount
That attempt to pass to Soldo smacked of fear of failure. But by the end of the day he seemed more confident.
He is a beautiful kick both on the run and set shot. Some of his play seems careless but he has a rare combination of skills.
We will see how he goes against PA where most of the play to goal will be directed through Dusty and himself.
Depending on our Mids against the best going around.. a big task and a better test than Sat.
He will also enjoy a role which includes Shai.
The dumb ones play near the big white sticks.
Noah’s backline bungling has been truly amazing in the last month. And we have structural problems forward and back. So Mini has thrown him forward.
It’s worked so far. So Balta plays forward now.
Aside from confusion Balta often lacks urgency imo. Sure, if he doesn’t know what to do he can’t do it urgently. But chasing opponents is not hard. Holding position is more important in the backline.
When the bad guys have the ball the forward Balta doesn’t have to think too hard. He can just hunt them down. Urgently. If he just does that he is enormously valuable.
He’s not a #1 forward at this stage and probably never will be. But he can play a role like Hipwood or Forward Himmelbusch. Probably as well offensively. And if he can learn to hunt urgently he could create priceless F50 turnovers like no other tall forward.
Noah’s backline bungling has been truly amazing in the last month. And we have structural problems forward and back. So Mini has thrown him forward.
It’s worked so far. So Balta plays forward now.
Aside from confusion Balta often lacks urgency imo. Sure, if he doesn’t know what to do he can’t do it urgently. But chasing opponents is not hard. Holding position is more important in the backline.
When the bad guys have the ball the forward Balta doesn’t have to think too hard. He can just hunt them down. Urgently. If he just does that he is enormously valuable.
He’s not a #1 forward at this stage and probably never will be. But he can play a role like Hipwood or Forward Himmelbusch. Probably as well offensively. And if he can learn to hunt urgently he could create priceless F50 turnovers like no other tall forward.
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With his speed and strength that could mean another net 10 goals per season. Imagine him running at you in your defensive 50...
Best interceptor in the game, needs to tidy up some things. Finally getting some continuity playing down back for 20 games in a row.
I don't mind a pinch hitter approach but he's not a forward. Key back and can be one of the better ones. Will be 24 next year, leave him back.
Still a heap of improvement in him.
I don't mind a pinch hitter approach but he's not a forward. Key back and can be one of the better ones. Will be 24 next year, leave him back.
Still a heap of improvement in him.
Intercept marker. One of the easiest capers in the game if you can catch with confidence. Sag off your man, get a nice block from your teammates, mark unopposed. Repeat. Tom Stewart. Jordan Ridley. Nick Vlastuin. Undersized blokes who can't play anywhere else because they can't run and they're not talented enough. No one is paying an intercept marker close to a million a year.
Josh Gibcus can play that role next year. We have to find somewhere for him and that's the ideal spot. Biggie can play intercept marker. Does it for fun in the VFA. Richo would have taken 38 intercept marks a game (Jack 27) if we'd preferred having the best intercept marker in the comp to 800 goals.
Noah Balta can play key forward. Few can. (Stewart, Ridley and Vlastuin sure as hell can't.) I'm amazed anyone bemoaning our lack thereof would want him to play anywhere else.
Josh Gibcus can play that role next year. We have to find somewhere for him and that's the ideal spot. Biggie can play intercept marker. Does it for fun in the VFA. Richo would have taken 38 intercept marks a game (Jack 27) if we'd preferred having the best intercept marker in the comp to 800 goals.
Noah Balta can play key forward. Few can. (Stewart, Ridley and Vlastuin sure as hell can't.) I'm amazed anyone bemoaning our lack thereof would want him to play anywhere else.
Forwards are more important than defenders
Elite forwards are more important than elite defenders
We owe it to ourselves to see if balta can be both .
Elite forwards are more important than elite defenders
We owe it to ourselves to see if balta can be both .
Balta will mark alot of the times, with his big body and strength. will be hard to beat
Agree.
Their combined massive drop off in form has been central to our poor results.
With the age of all three i suspect that this is the beginning of the end for this fine trio.
Succession planning has them being replaced by Brown, Banks and Smith???
We really are in a transition period.
I reckon give this a go, Balta is frustrating because of the howlers and the seeming lack of understanding. You can understand mistakes, but what Balta does a couple of times a game is beyond a mistake, he just doesn't seem to think fast enough. Maybe that could work forward as it is not that hard to understand - mark, kick though the tall white poles.
DS
He hunted urgently on Saddy.
Long searching runs (LSR). He was brisk. And then wiped.
One hunting lead to an on the full. When we returned the kick our only option was Soldo, Noah shuffling Cliffy Young style and too gassed to make position.
We need him to be hungrier - hunt the bad guys on LSR and then double back to be a target
Broad and Flossy have had periods of top form this year. I dont think their have lost it.
Our defensive cohesion is very shaky at the minute. Is it a new style? Everyone out of form? Something is amiss but I think Nathan and Nick will be very good again next year
The problem with Balta is that the whole is well short of the sum of the parts. We need to get back into the first round of the draft so I’d be quietly shopping him around to see what we can get. I’m sure we can find another key defender that can get bags kicked in them every week.
Couldn't disagree more. Gibcus couldn't play the Balta role next year, not strong enough to stand next the big blokes.
If Biggie could do it and those in charge thought he could, he would've by now.
The smarts required to play the role properly are huge, Balta doesn't have them yet and he is already league-leading. Imagine him with some more smarts and experience in the roll. Talking down Stewart, Ridley and our own Nick Vlaustuin is an interesting take.
Problem is the big blokes are kicking bags on him which is concerning.
Agree with your disagree.
Guys like Sicily, Stewart and May are amongst the most effective players in the league.
He is not always the best reader of play, but few can stand Tom Hawkins and out mark him the way Balta can. Shifting a potential perennial AA FB forward is a big risk.
