The ability to kick goals is why Richmond turned to clever forward Sam Lloyd in the absence of injured star Brett Deledio for the 2016 season-opener against Carlton.

And Lloyd more than repaid the Tigers’ faith in him, with his match-winning exploits during the last quarter of the big clash.

It was Lloyd who regained the lead for Richmond through a brilliant goal conjured from a ‘blind-turn’ in tight ‘traffic’ inside the forward-50 area, followed by a pinpoint left-foot snap.

A few minutes later, Lloyd provided the Tigers with some much-needed breathing space, when he again snapped truly off his left boot.

After an average first three quarters, Lloyd had responded in bold fashion to the challenge thrown down to him, and his teammates, by a fired-up coach Damien Hardwick at the final break.

“At three-quarter time, I thought I’ve got to really step up here,” he told Channel Seven in a post-game interview.

“‘Dimma’ put it on us to really lift, and I just knew I had to take my chances . . .

“I thought if I get a chance, I’m going to have a go. 

“It’s what I can do . . .

“I was lucky to get the ball and kick a couple of goals.”

Lloyd described his on-field role with the Tigers as “a mixture of everything”.

“It probably depends who we play,” he said.

“I trained hard, a lot in the pre-season on-ball, and if I have to stay at home down forward, I’ll stay at home down forward. 

“Just wherever they tell me to go, I go. 

“‘Cotch’ (Trent Cotchin) was getting a bit tired, ‘Dusty’ (Dustin Martin) was getting a bit tired, so I gave them a chop-out on-ball.”

It was the seventh time in Lloyd’s 21-game career with Richmond that he has kicked multiple goals in a match.

He now has a total 25 goals from those 21 games.