Richmond have made their decision on whether star utility Noah Balta will play against Gold Coast this weekend, as the 25-year-old awaits sentencing for pleading guilty to an assault charge.
Balta was suspended for four games by the AFL for his involvement in a pub brawl in Mulwala in December last year, however emerging vision released at his latest court hearing in March has painted Balta in a far more severe manner, with AFL enthusiasts questioning whether the defender should be allowed to return before his official sentencing is made before the courts.
Balta was not selected against Fremantle in Gather Round, however, Richmond cited it was for pure footballing reasons and not further internal suspension for his actions, nor public relations optics.
He did however play in a VFL-level scratch match against the Australian Academy team full of teenage draft prospects for the 2025 AFL Draft, indicating the Tigers were not afraid to withhold Balta from playing football.
With Richmond playing the Suns just three days before he hears his fate, the Tigers have continued to go against what seems to be the vocal majority and will name Balta to play at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night, according to 9News' Tom Morris.
The stunning selection will undoubtedly cast heavy scrutiny over Richmond's selection panel and coach Adem Yze, who has been unmoving in his defence of Balta as a person and backing of the Tigers and AFL's original suspension.
"I understand there's opinions, but he's served his suspension," Yze said earlier in the week.
"We went really hard with doing so, and he's been dealing with that for three months. He missed another game of footy. So we've suspended him for four, and now he's had five weeks out. We've just got to make sure we're looking after the player as well.
"As a footy club, we've already punished him. We don't want to keep punishing him."
Richmond's squad will officially be announced at 6:20pm on Thursday.
