Balta's criminal conviction was finalised in Albury on Tuesday morning, just three days after he made his 2025 debut in Richmond's surprise win over the Gold Coast Suns, whilst it also subjects him to a three month 10pm-6pm curfew during which he cannot leave his house for any circumstances other than exceptional medical ones.
It means that Balta will be unable to play any evening matches for the remainder of the year, nor any that require him to be interstate overnight.
The utility defender will therefore be unavailable for their ANZAC Day eve clash against Melbourne, their Round 11 Dreamtime fixture against Essendon, and a Round 12 trip to GWS Giants.
First bounce times for games beyond Round 15 have not been finalised due to the AFL's floating fixture for the third trimester of the season, which includes seven games in either Melbourne or Geelong, though his three-month curfew will expire between Rounds 19 and 20.
It's understood that Balta's guilty plea and his cooperation with the legal process, including a civil settlement with the victim and the undertaking of some remedial courses, has contributed to him not being incarcerated for one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, which can attract a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
His lawyers' requests for an exemption to the curfew to play football was denied on the grounds that the curfew is a punitive measure. Balta was also fined $3,000 and prohibited from consuming any alcohol during the period of the curfew.
