Richmond teenager Dustin Martin is playing beyond his years, according to team-mate Nathan Foley.

Foley says 19-year-old Martin gave an incredible performance with his 33 possessions and four goals in Richmond's nine-point AFL win over North Melbourne on Sunday.

It was Richmond's first win of the season and also a breakthrough for second-year midfielder/forward Martin.

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said it was Martin's best game for the club while Foley described the 187cm Castlemaine product's displays of brute strength against heavier opponents as "exceptional".

"He was instrumental in the win," Foley said on Monday.

"For a bloke in his second year of AFL football to have that sort of contribution to an AFL match, it was incredible."

Foley said the Tigers enjoyed their victory on Sunday but have quickly turned their attention to Saturday night's game against the win-less Brisbane at the MCG.

Runner-up in Richmond's 2007 best-and-fairest award, Foley played only four games last year as he battled calf, ankle and achilles injuries.

But after his 24-possession game against North, the talented midfielder is simply happy to be playing a role each week.

The 25-year-old from Colac estimates Sunday's round five triumph was the first time he'd sung the Tigers club song with his team-mates since round 10 of 2009.

"It was good to get a few touches. But it was just a relief to get the win," Foley told richmondfc.com.au.

"I sort of felt like one of the new guys singing the song.

"It's a fantastic feeling. It was a difficult year-and-a-half there of uncertainty with a few injury issues.

"It's fantastic to get a good solid pre-season in.

"Now playing consistent football and also being able to train consistently, it makes a big difference.

"It was really close at the end so when the final siren went it was certainly more a feeling of relief than excitement."

Foley said slow starts were troubling the Tigers, including allowing North to kick five goals to Richmond's one in the opening term.

"Our first quarters have been very scratchy," Foley said.

"That has been one of our big issues, our inconsistency over the course of a game."

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