Richmond coach Adem Yze is looking to follow top clubs Hawthorn and Fremantle as he believes the Tigers have discovered a double-ruck duo of their own.
One of Yze's successes this year has been the magnet move of key tall Noah Balta from defence to ruck-forward.
After showing promising signs in his new position a fortnight ago against Max Gawn and Melbourne, Balta was dominant in the club's breakthrough win on the road against West Coast last weekend registering 20 hit outs, 20 disposals and three goals.
Yze said even when captain and ruck Toby Nankervis returns from a hamstring injury, the move for Balta is here to stay as he hopes the duo can forge a ruck-forward partnership.
"We have thrown (Balta) around the last couple of years, but out of necessity, 'Nanks' out, we might have found something," Yze said during Friday's press conference.
"He is just willing to help, he has been itching to help our team, not only just to get a win but to get our boys fit and our fight back.
"His last couple of weeks, like the week before against 'Gawny' and against Melbourne's midfield, we were just scratching the surface.
"He has gone to work with our mids this week and we got a nice performance again, so hopefully that just grows and gets better over time and then we might have a nice combination when Nank comes back."
Nankervis is listed as still being at least three weeks away after injuring his hamstring in Round 2, but the 31-year-old skipper looked comfortable as he leapt at the ruck pad with young apprentice Samson Ryan on Friday.
One Tiger who put his name in the spotlight after last Saturday's performance was 21-year-old Kane McAuliffe who kicked a goal from his 28 disposals.
The thickly built gut-runner, who has emerged in recent weeks in the absence of other midfielders at the club, has shown his worth averaging 24 disposals across the past three games.
Yze said McAuliffe's form has come through hard work and another move with the magnets.
"We moved (McAuliffe's) role; we moved his magnet to the wing and he started and got that opportunity early in the season and we felt like we found something there," he said.
"But we know what he can do inside. He is a terrific guy, he works so hard on his game and he is an amazing teammate, so whether he plays on the wing or he plays inside, he is just so diligent in whatever we ask of him.
"It was awesome for him to get that reward because has been putting in so much effort like I said in a new role as a winger and now in an opportunity, because of the unavailability of different players, he gets the chance to play inside and we know that's his strength."
