I remember Vlastuin being very strong in the contest from Day 1. Played 18 games in his first season and some really strong stats. I don't personally see the comparison with Balta. Still young is Balta but it is now his 3rd year so the focus will be on him to really step up a notch in the next 2 years. I just don't see him as a backman as others do. I think he has more flair as a wing-forward type.
Flossy's a beauty under the ball, always has been.
Not sure why Flossy gets entered into the comparison though, he's a medium size 187 cm defender while Tross n Balta are key size 194 cm defenders.
From vague old fart memory Flossy was more a mid in his junior years, pretty sure some on here were not overly impressed with us taking him early as he didn't get anywhere near enough ball for a mid and we paid overs for a half back flanker. Reckon we might have done rather well in hindsight.
Early Balta reminds me a lot of Tross. Both exciting exuberant flat out at the contest type footballers who don't seem to have a natural position or a structured way of playing. Tross also played a bit around wing and mid at 100 mph when he first started and when tried down back was often easily unbalanced or out positioned by forwards until such time as Leppa spent some time teaching him the finer points. I'm seeing almost identical traits in the way Balta is starting his career.