Richmond coach Adem Yze is excited with the potential of the team’s big forward combination of Tom Lynch and Noah Balta in the wake of what they both delivered in the Round 1 clash with Carlton at the MCG.

Lynch, in his first game since Round 4 last year, when he suffered a severe foot injury, kicked two goals and set up another one for the Tigers.

Balta was outstanding on the night in his new forward-ruck role during the first half, and later in defence after the team lost the services of young key backmen Josh Gibcus and Tylar Young.

He finished the match with 23 disposals, 11 contested possessions, a team-high nine marks, eight intercepts, three goals, six score involvements, a game-high nine rebound-50s and 613 metres gained.

Yze is keen to keep Balta forward at this stage, despite the issues in Richmond’s defence created by the now long-term absence of Gibcus and the short-term one of Young.

“He’s produced two really strong games. And he’s got a goal around being really consistent,” Yze said.

“I’m really buoyed by what he’s doing as a ruck and power forward. So, if we have to cover the other end, I think I’ll be leaning with bringing in a key defender and not throwing him back just yet . . .

“I think Ben Rutten (backline coach) might want him down back to cover for ‘Youngy’, or for ‘Gibbo’, but I’m really enjoying what I’m seeing with Noah and ‘Lynchy’. 

“It’s only been a small sample size, but I’d hope we can keep going with it (the Lynch-Balta combination) . . . The first half, it looked really potent.

“It was good having the big ‘fella’ (Lynch) back. He gave us a focal point and created some amazing contests for us.

“The balance of having those two forward, our smaller players really enjoyed playing underneath them.”