AFL boss Andrew Dillon puts return of Richmond’s Noah Balta ahead of sentencing for assault charge in club’s hands

AFL boss Andrew Dillon says Noah Balta has served his club-imposed suspension for assault and the decision on whether he plays this weekend is “up to Richmond” amid an outcry over his potential return. Balta is eligible for selection having served his four-match suspension after pleading guilty to a single count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm following an incident in regional NSW last December that left a victim in hospital with a head injury. The charge attracts a maximum penalty of five years in jail under NSW law and Balta will be sentenced on April 22 at Albury Local Court. Despite the serious nature of the charge, the AFL didn’t impose a sanction beyond that handed down by the Tigers and on Wednesday Dillon put the responsibility for picking Balta on Richmond. “Noah is in the middle of a court process which will finalise in a couple of weeks,” he said. “The AFL process was completed in February. Noah has served his suspension. He’s also undergone behavioural frameworks, which he’s been adhering to, and ultimately now is available for selection. “But it’s up to Richmond whether they select him. “He has completed the suspension, and he’s done everything that was asked of him, but he is in the middle of a court process that continues.” Last week when asked about Balta’s possible return, Richmond coach Adem Yze said the club would not change its view that Balta had served his suspension. “He’s hating not being out there,” Yze said. “The fact that it’s out in the media now – it happened in January, so, he’s been dealing with that for a long time, so we’re not going to change our verdict. “We’ve worked with the AFL with that and they’re really clear on that.” But the call has come under fire from Melbourne great Garry Lyon who said waiting for an AFL return “wouldn’t be the worst thing”. “I also find it really hard (to have a stance) because the counterargument is he’s been suspended, he’s done his time, he’s now available, so he plays. But I think starting in the VFL is not the worst thing for him,” Lyon said on AFL 360 of Balta’s potential selection this weekend. “He’s fortunate that he’s still got a career … the circumstances around that (incident) may have been a lot worse.” Richmond plays Fremantle in the Barossa on Sunday.