There are few people happier with new Richmond coach Adem Yze's decision to swing Noah Balta forward than the man himself.
The 24-year-old's career has largely been spent in defence, with shorter stints in attack and the ruck.
But with Tom Lynch on the comeback trail from injury, Yze has thrown the keys to former swingman Balta.
"It's awesome," Balta said. "I feel like the fans are actually gonna like me now - kick some goals."
The shift forward appears a permanent one for Balta, who has kicked 25 goals in 85 games.
"It was Yze's idea," he said.
"When I was playing in the back line, it's a lot of gut-running and there's a lot of better players that are better than me at that. I'm a bit more of an explosive player.
"So Yze explained that to me and he felt like up forward I get to control how much I run actually instead of chasing somebody else's backside the whole game.
"I'm very excited, I've played forward before. Obviously kicking goals is fun - it's what you want to do as a kid. So just take my opportunity with both hands.
"It's good. He shows faith in me. Obviously he's coached against me a fair bit.
"So he must see something in me that obviously a lot of people do, a lot of fans do, that he's trying to get me to see in myself - that I can be a really good forward."
Balta will initially work alongside former Hawk Jacob Koschitzke but brilliant spearhead Lynch appears on track to return in Richmond's second game against Carlton.
He doesn't expect to swing back when Lynch resumes control of the forward line.
"I'm not the coach but I don't think so," he said.
"Dimma was a bit more erratic to say the least - I'd go forward, back and ruck in the same game.
"This whole pre-season I've been forward and Yze's pretty certain I'm gonna stick there."
Playing under Yze has been a new experience for Balta, who has only played under now-Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick, then caretaker Andrew McQualter.
Ahead of Saturday's first clash between Hardwick and the Tigers, Balta admits he hasn't spoken to his former premiership coach much since his departure last year.
But it's not for lack of trying.
"I've sent him a couple of messages. He hasn't responded though. I think he might be off me," Balta joked.
Balta plans to remind him of that when they meet on Saturday.
And if he kicks a bag against Hardwick's new team?
"I'd be rapt," Balta said.
"Absolutely stoked."
