Noah Balta shapes as a forward linchpin for Richmond after an eye-catching three-goal display in their AFL pre-season win over Hawthorn in Tasmania.
The Tigers produced a blistering start to lead 46-13 at the first change before finishing 14.10 (94) to 9.15 (69) victors in a rough-and-tumble hit-out before round one.
Balta, whose 2021 was derailed by an ankle injury, is set to be pushed forward by Richmond this season from his usual spot in defence.
The 22-year-old slotted two goals in the opening quarter on Saturday afternoon at Devonport Oval and finished with seven marks, two of them contested.
"His ability to compete, bring the ball to ground, bring our crumbers into play was really strong," Richmond assistant coach Adam Kingsley said.
"Obviously he's made an AFL name for himself as a backman.
"But we feel we can stretch an opposition with the three keys, Jack (Riewoldt), Tom (Lynch) and Noah. His aerial stuff is really important.
"I'd imagine he's locked in for a start (in round one) and I'm presuming that's as a forward. But we'll discuss that as the week ... wears on."
Ruckman Ivan Soldo (ankle), Dion Prestia (hand) and Dylan Grimes (finger) all spent time off the field but Kingsley said there were no injury concerns from the match ahead of round one against Carlton.
Hobart-born Riewoldt finished with three goals in front of a sold-out crowd of 8412.
The match was a fundraiser for the families affected by December's Hillcrest Primary School jumping castle tragedy in which six students were killed and three others badly injured.
Youngster Josh Ward had the most disposals (29) for Hawthorn, who were without the rested Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O'Meara, in a performance that made a strong case for round-one inclusion.
Ward, last year's No.7 draft pick, also picked up four marks and six clearances.
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell said he faced a midfield selection headache with Mitchell and O'Meara "probably" available to take on North Melbourne.
"(Ward) has been really working hard on his game to improve to make himself ready to play AFL-standard football," he said.
"If he's there yet, we're not exactly sure. But certainly everything about his game (against Richmond) said that he's ready for AFL footy."
The Tigers opened up an 85-39 advantage heading into the final term, with Hawthorn slotting four goals in the last quarter to reduce the margin.
Richmond's Dustin Martin picked up 26 disposals in his second pre-season hit-out on return from a serious kidney injury suffered in round 18 last year.
