Richmond great Jack Riewoldt believes his former club erred in how they handled the Noah Balta selection saga, having belatedly decided against recalling the AFL premiership defender in round five.
Balta's club-imposed suspension is over and he was eligible to return in Sunday's clash with Fremantle at Barossa Park while he awaits sentencing for assault.
But he was left out of the Tigers' extended 26-player squad named on Thursday night.
Balta will instead play for Richmond's reserves team against a national academy under-18s team on Sunday.
In a statement, the Tigers said it was a "purely a football decision" based around Balta's match conditioning not yet being up to AFL standard after so long out of action.
Balta has pleaded guilty to assault and will be sentenced on April 22 for his attack on a 27-year-old man outside the Mulwala Water Ski Club.
Both Richmond and AFL have faced fierce public criticism over the decision to make Balta eligible to play before his sentencing.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan was particularly vocal, describing Balta's actions as a "sickening attack" and demanding answers from both the club and league.
"What sort of message does this send to kids about what's right and what's wrong?" Allan said on Thursday.
Balta's former premiership teammate Riewoldt said the club had left itself open to criticism.
"The Tigers let this bubble along for so long," Riewoldt said on Nova.
"I would have loved to have seen them come out early on and say, 'Look, he wasn't going to play this week because it's just stayed in the media for all the wrong reasons'.
"And then you get a whole bunch of other people grabbing hold of it, sort of not politicising it, but actually using it to make comments.
"So look, it's an unfortunate situation for all parties involved.
"And I think it maybe could have been handled a little bit better, but we live and learn."
Balta was suspended for four premiership matches and also sat out two practice games in a sanction ratified by the AFL after the incident on December 30 last year.
Balta pleaded guilty in the Corowa Local Court to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, which in NSW carries a maximum penalty of five years in jail.
The lawyer representing Thomas Washbrook - the man punched by Balta - said his client believes the AFL player should be given a second chance.
John Suta told ABC radio his client had received a payout from Balta and is recovering.
"My client is of the opinion that he (Balta) has made a mistake," Suta said.
"He appropriately made admissions, confessed, has undertaken educational courses and is genuinely remorseful, and should be able to get on with his life."
Suta added it would be "appropriate" if Balta was to sit out of football before his sentencing.
It remains to be seen whether Balta will make his AFL return in round six, when Richmond host Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium.
Earlier this week, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said the league would not step in to prevent Balta returning to action before his sentencing.
Outgoing AFL Players' Association chief executive Paul Marsh said Balta "has a right to play" after serving his ban.
