Talented, tall, young Richmond swingman Noah Balta continued his seamless pre-season return to a forward role with some trademark eye-catching efforts in last Saturday’s intra-club practice match at Punt Road Oval.

The 2020 premiership Tiger got better as the trial game wore on, showcasing his aerial ability, athleticism, and long kicking.

He finished with two goals in a promising display that underlined how much he can offer the team in attack, as well as defence, where he spent most of the past couple of seasons.

“Noah’s played forward for us in previous years earlier in his career. I think there’s a lot of potential there. It’s exciting,” Richmond assistant coach Andrew McQualter said in his post-match press conference last Saturday.

“We know he can play back, so it’s just something we’re trying. Who knows where it can end up.

“He’s got a lot of talent, Noah.”

Pressed on whether Balta was locked in to start the season up forward, McQualter replied: “There’s still a few practice matches to go . . . He’s trained the pre-season forward and he played there today. So, that’s where it’s at, at the moment.”