Nick Vlastuin proved himself to be a valuable magnet on Richmond coach Damien Hardwick’s whiteboard with his efforts after being moved forward in yesterday’s match against St Kilda at the MCG.

With the Tigers minus concussed star key forward Jack Riewoldt, and the Saints surging during the third quarter, Hardwick stationed his reliable small defender deep in attack, hoping he could provide the team with a bit of a spark.

Vlastuin proceeded to kick two vital goals in two minutes to regain the initiative for Richmond.

He kicked another goal in the final term to finish with three for the match – all from the 18-minute mark of the third quarter – and also had nine score involvements all-up, as well as taking an equal team-high nine marks.

Although Vlastuin performed so impressively in his temporary new role up forward, he admitted afterwards it certainly wasn’t something that came naturally to him.

“Halfway through the third (quarter) the runner came out to me and told me to play key forward . . . I had no idea what I was doing,” Vlastuin said on Channel Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.

“I was asking Jack Higgins for advice where to stand at stoppages and stuff like that. He just smiled at me and then ran off . . .

“Dylan Grimes always fancies himself to roll forward and be the bolter. He wasn’t playing yesterday, so I got the call-up.”

Vlastuin’s first goal was the result of a free kick from a ruck infringement, after he’d nominated to take the ball-up for the Tigers inside their forward-50 area.

“That was my first-ever ruck contest and I got a free kick from it and kicked a goal,” he said.