There is something about playing Richmond’s arch-rival Carlton that seems to bring out the best in Noah Balta.

The talented, tall Tiger swingman produced one of the finest performances of his 132-game AFL career in the Round 17 clash with the Blues under the MCG Saturday night lights.

Balta, in his relief ruck/forward role, finished the match with 15 disposals, an equal team-high 10 contested possessions, seven marks, including an extremely impressive game-high/AFL career-high five contested grabs, two goals, three inside-50s, three clearances, an equal team-high/AFL career-high eight score involvements, six hit-outs and 348 metres gained.

In this year’s Round 1 match against Carlton, Balta, playing as a key defender, had 19 disposals, eight contested possessions, seven marks, nine intercepts, seven rebound-50s, five score involvements and 546 metres gained.

Balta missed the Tigers’ 2025 season-opener v the Blues, but the previous season he again excelled in the two meetings they had.

He starred in the Round 1, 2024 encounter with 23 disposals, 11 contested possessions, nine marks, eight intercepts, three goals, six score involvements, nine rebound-50s and 613 metres gained.

In the return match later that season, he took five marks and booted three goals.

All-up, Balta has played nine games against Carlton and scored 12 goals. That is his highest goal tally against any AFL club (North Melbourne next most with eight goals).

It’s a form line that late, great Richmond administrator Graeme Richmond would have enjoyed, given how he used to gee up Tiger players when they were preparing to do battle with traditional rivals the Blues.