Richmond defender Noah Balta hit where it hurts in bizarre court sentencing
Richmond defender Noah Balta has avoided jail time over an assault outside a club - but has been hit with a three-month curfew that rules him out from playing in several upcoming night-time games.
Balta fronted Albury Local Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm following his trial at Corowa Local Court in January.
The incident in question occurred in December in the rural New South Wales town of Mulwala.
It was alleged he assaulted a man who 'had his back turned' during an altercation that unfolded outside a pub.
The AFL star was facing potential jail time with the maximum penalty five years imprisonment for such an assault.
After serving a club-imposed four-game suspension, and playing a reserves match last week, Balta controversially returned to the senior line-up for the first time on Saturday night, and played a starring role by keeping red-hot forward Ben King to one goal.
However, on Tuesday he was fined $3000 and slapped with an 18-month Community Correction Order (CCO) with a 10pm to 6am curfew and a conviction recorded.
The punishment has a serious impact on Balta's footballing career with the 25-year-old now set to be stood down from several matches because of the curfew imposed, which means he is not allowed to leave his home from 10pm to 6am.
The curfew is for three months.
Richmond plays Melbourne in their annual Anzac Day Eve clash on Thursday night, with first bounce at 7.30pm.
The Tigers also play Essendon in Dreamtime at the 'G from 7.40pm, while they also have a scheduled twilight clash with GWS in Sydney starting at 4.15pm.
According to The Herald Sun, the court heard Balta had paid $45,000 in compensation to the victim.
According to reports, Balta's legal representatives attempted to push back against the curfew imposed, but the magistrate maintained the sentence.
It comes just days after Balta was booed by fans as he ran onto the field during his team's upset win over the Gold Coast Suns at Marvel Stadium.
Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick, who previously coached the Tigers, launched a strong defence of Balta and took a bizarre swipe at Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan over public comments she had made about the footballer.
Allan had condemned the AFL's decision to let Balta return to the field with the court case yet to be completed.
Richmond coach Adem Yze said on Saturday night the club will 'look after' Balta this week.
Hardwick, meanwhile, Hardwick didn't divulge whether he or his club had an issue with Balta playing, but he did take aim at Allan.
'We've got a premier who put her nose in someone else's business,' Hardwick said.
'She should just concentrate on getting the state running well. Absolute mockery her making comments with regard to that.'
In his time at Richmond, Hardwick coached Balta for six seasons and said he 'of course' reached out to the premiership backman following the incident, and said Balta was receptive to his words.
'He's pled guilty, he understands that. He's going to cop his fair whack,' Hardwick said.
'Speaking to him, disappointed in his actions, support the individual, he'll get better as a result of it.'
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