After Sunday's 64-point win over St Kilda, Richmond sits sixth on the ladder, a game clear of nearest rivals Port Adelaide and Collingwood, and three games and percentage ahead of ninth-placed Carlton.
Coach Damien Hardwick was pleased with Richmond's even spread of goalkickers and the improvement in their leaders as the club seeks to end a 12-year finals drought.
He was also encouraged by the way the players have matured and shown they can build leads – and hold them – after struggling to do that in the past.
"Last year, we tended to blow sides out and then lose that lead a little bit," Hardwick said.
"I think the thing we're doing better is playing a more consistent brand of footy that [extends the lead to] three goals, five goals, seven goals and then win by nine.
"That's a sign the group has matured. They know when to take risks and when to play within themselves and we think we're tracking OK in that area."
The Tigers had 10 different goalkickers on Sunday. Jack Riewoldt and Dan Jackson kicked three each while Brett Deledio, Shaun Grigg and Nathan Foley nabbed two.
Aaron Edwards had 19 disposals, took nine marks and kicked a goal in his fourth game as a Tiger, and Hardwick praised the new element he had brought to their attack.
"He certainly provides a different target to Jack and Ty (Vickery). With all three of those players, we've certainly got a different attacking force," he said.
"He's been outstanding. He's certainly had to earn his game, he'd been in terrific form at VFL level but he's got an aspect we don't have in our forward structure we certainly enjoy."
Hardwick said he had been pleased with Foley's past three weeks after his return from an Achilles tendon rupture in round seven.
"It took a little bit to get going but I'm getting some continuity in training and playing and I feel like I'm slowly improving week to week," Foley said.
Nick Vlastuin (corked shin) and David Astbury (ankle) are expected to be available to face North Melbourne on Saturday but Ivan Maric (groin) is a "wait and see" prospect.
Jennifer Phelan is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenPhelan
