Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan is the latest high-profile figure to voice concern on Noah Balta’s possible return to the AFL.

The Richmond premiership player — who has pleaded guilty to assault and is awaiting sentencing — is eligible to play this weekend after serving a four-match ban (six, if you include pre-season games).

The club suspension has sparked a chorus of criticism levelled at Richmond and the AFL, with most people agreeing it is manifestly inadequate.

“Having looked at the footage ... what a sickening attack that was,” Allan said on Thursday ahead of the team selection.

“Like many Victorians ... I’ll be sitting down with the kids, they’ll be watching Hawthorn, I’ll be looking at Essendon’s results. Either way, when we sit down (and watch the footy), how do we explain to kids, particularly, how do we answer that question?

“How does the AFL and the Richmond Football Club answer that question about what’s going on here? What sort of message does this send to kids about what’s right and what’s wrong?

“I think that’s really a question that the AFL and Richmond need to answer.

“Let’s remember the victim here who would no doubt be deeply traumatised by this experience.”

The backlash against Richmond has been ferocious since shocking CCTV vision of his assault was shown in court in March.

Parents of one-punch victims have spoken out against the club and the AFL, while the AFL has said it is up to Richmond to handle.

Balta, 25, pleaded guilty to a single count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, which in NSW attracts a maximum penalty of five years in jail.

The victim, Thomas Washbrook, was waiting for a courtesy bus at Mulwala Water Ski Club when an altercation began between him and Balta’s younger brother, Oskar.

The CCTV footage shows Balta run out of the club and shoulder-charge Washbrook, knocking him to the ground.

Prosecutor Jason Tozer said in court that “it is only sheer luck” that Washbrook wasn’t killed in the incident.

Channel 7’s chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary said he believed the long-term Richmond plan for Noah Balta was “to have him return via the VFL”.

“His four-match ban is now over. There’s a VFL bye this week but Richmond’s VFL side plays the AFL U18 Academy side on Sunday,” Cleary said.

Speaking at the Gather Round launch in Adelaide on Wednesday, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said it was Richmond’s call.

“Ultimately Noah is in the middle of a court process, which will finalise in a couple of weeks,” Dillon said.

“The AFL process was completed in February, Noah has served his suspension and he’s also undergone behavioural frameworks, which he’s been adhering to.

“Now he’s available for selection. It’s up to Richmond whether they select him.

“He has completed the suspension, he’s done everything that was asked of him. But he is in the middle of a court process, which continues.”

Outgoing AFL Players Association (AFLPA) chief Paul Marsh said Balta “has a right to play” while he awaits his assault sentencing.

“There’s been a disciplinary process there. Noah has served that out. And so he has a right to play this week. I don’t know whether he will,” Marsh said on Tuesday.

“At the moment, our thoughts are with Noah in a sort of broader sense, I think he’s got some problems, sorts of challenges ahead of him and that is the bigger issue.

“But if playing fully, and I think playing footy can be a nice distraction, being in a club where they’re actually working with him day-to-day is also really positive ... I think that the club will make the right decision.”