In a Richmond Media mid-season special series, recently retired Yellow and Black premiership hero Shaun Grigg is assessing the progress of the Tigers’ 2019 AFL debutants.
First-up, the focus is on versatile, talented ‘tall’ Noah Balta. Here’s what ‘Grigga’ has to say about him . . .
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“I love watching him play, as probably most fans do.
“He can get the ball half-back and take a few bounces and kick it on his left 55 (metres).
“Sometimes it will go through the big sticks, sometimes it won’t . . . You just don’t know what you’re going to get with him.
“He’s very competitive, he’s got such a big body, he’s very athletic and so fast.
“He’s got a big future and it’s good that he can get some games in now to develop.
“He’s been thrown around a bit – key forward, ruck, key back. It would be nice to settle him down in one position, but that’s probably the beauty of him that you can throw him around . . .
“And he’s got some good people to learn from. If he’s playing in the forward line he’s got Jack (Riewoldt) and ‘Lynchy’ (Tom Lynch) to learn off. If he’s in the backline he’s got Dave (Astbury), ‘Grimesy’ (Dylan Grimes), ‘Rancey’ (Alex Rance). And, also the ruck, Ivan Maric and Toby Nankervis. So he’s in good hands.”
AFL debut: Round 1 v Carlton, MCG
Total games: 12
Total goals: 6
Disposals average: 9.7
Marks average: 2.6
Tackles average: 2.3
Hit-outs average: 6.7
Rising stars’ ranking: First for hit-outs, second for total bounces, fourth for inside-50s, fourth for contested possessions, fourth for contested marks, sixth for one-percenters, seventh for metres gained.
