RICHMOND recruit Josh Caddy could see his new club was on the cusp of a revival as he considered a move from Geelong last year, and he is grateful the club stuck with coach Damien Hardwick to see it out.
Caddy has reached each milestone of his career so far at different clubs, making his debut with Gold Coast, reaching his 50th game with Geelong, and he will play his 100th against Melbourne on Anzac Eve for his third club.
He was a surprise acquisition for Richmond during last year's NAB AFL Trade Period after being raised in talks over former Tiger Brett Deledio, and he has formed an instant bond with Hardwick.
The 24-year-old said he had viewed the Tigers positively as an opposition player and knew that off-season changes would get the club back on track in 2017.
"To be honest, I didn't think Richmond were on the verge of being the next premiership favourites," Caddy told AFL.com.au.
"But I did think if things changed up a little bit and with some fresh new faces, like Neil Balme coming into the club and a fewer other things, that we could have a successful year.
"I was probably a lot more optimistic than other people, and I think most players view Richmond a little bit differently than the public does and the media."
Caddy said he had been embraced by Hardwick after arriving as a key midfield recruit and was enjoying playing under the coach's new attacking game-plan.
Hardwick came under pressure during the club's horror 2016 season, but sticking with the eighth-year coach with a new support team has proved to be a smart move.
"Everyone loves playing for him and it's great the club stuck with him," Caddy said.
"It was obviously a really disappointing year last year and we know how volatile the AFL industry can be, but it shows the high regard people hold him in here after a disappointing year.
"He's got the boys back on track. It's only four rounds into a long season, but we've made some improvements and turned things around this year."
The new direction the Tigers have taken this season, with the players told to trust their instincts and attack with the ball, has resulted in a positive atmosphere at Punt Road Oval.
Caddy said there were similarities with his old club Geelong, from where assistant coach Blake Caracella also crossed at the end of last season.
"We've got a game-plan and we've got structures, but the coaching group has put a lot of trust in us players to back our instincts and go out and have a crack and have fun as well," he said.
"At the end of the day we just play footy and the reason we're at an AFL club is because we've shown talent.
"Sometimes you forget about that, and I think the best players in the game back themselves in and play on instinct and play to their strengths. That's why they're good players."
