Noah Balta is back to face the Suns: AFL experts’ tips and teams for round six (2025)

Richmond star Noah Balta has been named to face the Suns on Saturday night, despite awaiting sentencing later this month after pleading guilty to assault.

Balta’s return comes after he served a four-match ban (plus another two pre-season games) for the incident outside Mulwala Water Ski Club in December. The 25-year-old is due to be sentenced on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli has recovered from a calf injury and will return to play his first game for 2025 in his side’s must-win clash with St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Sunday night.

Here are all the teams for round six

BRISBANE LIONS
B: D. Zorko, J. Payne, R. Lester
HB: N. Answerth, H. Andrews, D. Wilmot
C: J. Fletcher, Z. Bailey, J. Berry
HF: C. Cameron, E. Hipwood, H. McCluggage
F: C. Rayner, S. Day, C. Ah Chee
FOLL: O. McInerney, J. Dunkley, L. Neale
I/C: W. Ashcroft, L. Ashcroft, L. Morris, S. Marshall, J. Tunstill
EMG: D. Robertson, D. Gardiner, D. Fort
IN: S. Marshall, J. Tunstill
OUT: W. McLachlan (omitted), B. Reville (injured)

COLLINGWOOD
B: B. Maynard, B. Frampton, J. Howe
HB: J. Daicos, D. Moore, H. Perryman
C: J. Crisp, S. Sidebottom, P. Lipinski
HF: B. Hill, B. Mihocek, L. Sullivan
F: B. McCreery, D. McStay, J. Elliott
FOLL: D. Cameron, N. Long, N. Daicos
I/C: J. De Goey, I. Quaynor, S. Pendlebury, E. Allan, W. Hoskin-Elliott
EMG: T. Membrey, O. Markov, M. Cox
IN: J. De Goey
OUT: T. Membrey (managed)

NORTH MELBOURNE
B: C. Comben, A. Corr, G. Logue
HB: L. McDonald, C. Daniel, D. Tucker
C: F. O’Sullivan, T. Powell, C. McKercher
HF: P. Curtis, N. Larkey, H. Sheezel
F: C. Zurhaar, J. Darling, J. Konstanty
FOLL: T. Xerri, L. Davies-Uniacke, J. Simpkin
I/C: G. Wardlaw, Z. Duursma, D. Stephens, Z. Fisher, L. Parker
EMG: R. Hardeman, B. Teakle, R. Hansen jnr
IN: G. Wardlaw
OUT: R. Hardeman (omitted)

CARLTON
B: J. Silvagni, J. Weitering, N. Haynes
HB: A. Saad, M. McGovern, O. Hollands
C: B. Acres, P. Cripps, M. Carroll
HF: E. Hollands, L. Young, L. Fogarty
F: J. Motlop, C. Curnow, Z. Williams
FOLL: T. De Koning, G. Hewett, A. Cerra
I/C: M. Cottrell, S. Walsh, C. Durdin, C. Lord, W. White
EMG: J. Boyd, M. Pittonet, S. Docherty
IN: B. Acres, E. Hollands, L. Young
OUT: S. Docherty (omitted), H. McKay (injured), B. Kemp (injured)

WEST COAST
B: R. Ginbey, H. Edwards, B. Hough
HB: L. Duggan, J. McGovern, L. Baker
C: J. Hutchinson, J. Graham, J. Hunt
HF: L. Ryan, J. Waterman, J. Cripps
F: J. Williams, A. Reid, M. Owies
FOLL: M. Flynn, T. Kelly, H. Reid
I/C: E. Hewett, R. Maric, T. Gross, H. Davis, T. Dewar
EMG: N. Long, B. Williams, S. Brock
IN: J. McGovern, M. Flynn, T. Kelly, E. Hewett
OUT: S. Brock (omitted), C. Hall (omitted), O. Allen (managed), B. Williams (omitted)

ESSENDON
B: A. McGrath, B. McKay, J. Ridley
HB: M. Redman, Z. Reid, J. Prior
C: X. Duursma, D. Shiel, A. Roberts
HF: J. Gresham, N. Caddy, N. Martin
F: H. Jones, P. Wright, I. Kako
FOLL: S. Draper, Z. Merrett, S. Durham
I/C: B. Hobbs, W. Setterfield, A. Perkins, J. Menzie, S. El-Hawli
EMG: E. Tsatas, T. Goldstein, A. Day-Wicks
IN: P. Wright
OUT: N. Bryan (injured)

MELBOURNE
B: J. Bowey, H. Petty, T. McDonald
HB: X. Lindsay, S. May, C. Salem
C: C. Windsor, J. Viney, E. Langdon
HF: K. Tholstrup, T. Fullarton, K. Pickett
F: K. Chandler, D. Turner, C. Spargo
FOLL: M. Gawn, C. Petracca, H. Langford
I/C: C. Oliver, J. Melksham, T. Rivers, H. Sharp, T. Sparrow
EMG: B. Howes, B. Fritsch, J. Henderson
IN: K. Tholstrup, T. Fullarton, D. Turner
OUT: J. van Rooyen (omitted), J. Henderson (omitted), B. Fritsch (omitted)

FREMANTLE
B: L. Ryan, A. Pearce, B. Cox
HB: H. Chapman, K. Worner, J. Clark
C: J. Sharp, H. Young, J. O’Meara
HF: M. Frederick, S. Switkowski, S. Bolton
F: M. Reid, J. Treacy, J. Amiss
FOLL: S. Darcy, C. Serong, A. Brayshaw
I/C: O. McDonald, B. Banfield, M. Johnson, J. Draper, I. Dudley
EMG: N. Erasmus, L. Reidy, J. Aish
IN: O. McDonald
OUT: P. Voss (suspension)

ADELAIDE
B: J. Worrell, N. Murray, R. Laird
HB: W. Milera, M. Keane, M. Michalanney
C: I. Cumming, J. Dawson, D. Curtin
HF: B. Keays, R. Thilthorpe, I. Rankine
F: D. Fogarty, T. Walker, A. Neal-Bullen
FOLL: R. O’Brien, J. Soligo, M. Crouch
I/C: Z. Taylor, M. Hinge, L. Nankervis, S. Berry, S. Draper
EMG: L. Sholl, J. Butts, L. Pedlar
IN: N. Murray, S. Berry
OUT: L. Sholl (omitted), J. Peatling (suspension)

GWS
B: C. Idun, S. Taylor, H. Himmelberg
HB: L. Whitfield, J. Buckley, L. Ash
C: H. Thomas, F. Callaghan, C. Ward
HF: D. Jones, J. Stringer, T. Bedford
F: T. Greene, J. Hogan, A. Cadman
FOLL: K. Briggs, J. Kelly, T. Green
I/C: J. Wehr, J. Riccardi, C. Stone, C. Brown, T. McMullin
EMG: H. Rowston, X. O’Halloran, L. Aleer
IN: Nil
OUT: Nil

RICHMOND
B: B. Miller, N. Balta, N. Broad
HB: J. Short, L. Trainor, N. Vlastuin
C: J. Trezise, T. Dow, H. Ralphsmith
HF: J. Ross, S. Campbell, S. Green
F: M. Rioli, T. Lynch, J. Faull
FOLL: T. Nankervis, T. Taranto, J. Hopper
I/C: T. Brown, S. Ryan, S. Lalor, S. Banks, K. McIntosh
EMG: T. Sonsie, J. Bauer, C. Gray
IN: N. Balta, S. Ryan, S. Lalor
OUT: J. Bauer (omitted), T. Sonsie (omitted), J. Blight (omitted)

GOLD COAST
B: W. Powell, S. Collins, B. Uwland
HB: J. Noble, M. Andrew, D. Rioli
C: L. Weller, M. Rowell, T. Miller
HF: S. Flanders, J. Walter, B. Long
F: E. Read, B. King, B. Humphrey
FOLL: J. Witts, W. Graham, N. Anderson
I/C: N. Holman, B. Ainsworth, J. Rogers, C. Budarick, J. Jeffrey
EMG: N. Moyle, S. Clohesy, C. Graham
IN: C. Budarick
OUT: S. Clohesy (omitted)

SYDNEY
B: J. Hamling, L. Melican, D. Rampe
HB: M. Roberts, N. Blakey, S. Wicks
C: J. Lloyd, I. Heeney, J. McInerney
HF: Co. Warner, H. McLean, J. Jordon
F: W. Hayward, T. McCartin, B. Campbell
FOLL: B. Grundy, Ch. Warner, J. Rowbottom
I/C (from): R. Bice, C. Cleary, O. Florent, T. Hanily, A. Francis, P. Ladhams, A. Sheldrick, B. Paton
IN: L. Melican, J. McInerney, A. Francis, B. Paton
OUT: J. Amartey (injured)

PORT ADELAIDE
B: J. Sinn, A. Aliir, M. Bergman
HB: La. Jones, E. Ratugolea, K. Farrell
C: C. Moraes, C. Rozee, J. Burgoyne
HF: J. Mead, M. Georgiades, W. Rioli
F: S. Powell-Pepper, O. Lord, J. Richards
FOLL: J. Sweet, J. Horne-Francis, Z. Butters
I/C (from): W. Drew, O. Wines, J. Finlayson, T. Cochrane, J. Berry, T. Boak, R. Atkins, D. Byrne-Jones
IN: J. Finlayson, R. Atkins, D. Byrne-Jones
OUT: Nil

WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: B. Khamis, L. Jones, L. Bramble
HB: J. Johannisen, R. Lobb, B. Dale
C: B. Williams, E. Richards, J. Freijah
HF: L. McNeil, A. Naughton, T. Liberatore
F: J. O’Donnell, S. Darcy, R. West
FOLL: T. English, M. Bontempelli, M. Kennedy
I/C (from): O. Baker, J. Busslinger, L. Cleary, S. Davidson, J. Dolan, H. Gallagher, C. Hynes, R. Sanders
IN: M. Bontempelli, O. Baker, J. Busslinger, H. Gallagher
OUT: J. Harmes (injured)

ST KILDA
B: R. Byrnes, C. Wilkie, J. Webster
HB: A. Schoenmaker, N. Wanganeen-Milera, M. Windhager
C: B. Hill, J. Sinclair, M. Wood
HF: M. Hall, D. Wilson, M. Owens
F: C. Sharman, A. Caminiti, J. Higgins
FOLL: R. Marshall, J. Macrae, J. Steele
I/C (from): Z. Jones, L. Collard, T. Travaglia, L. Stocker, L. Henry, A. Hastie, H. Boyd, H. Garcia
IN: A. Schoenmaker, L. Henry, H. Boyd
OUT: Nil

TBC (to be named on Sunday night)

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