THE TIGERS will be better in two weeks' time and captain Trent Cotchin will be let off the leash after a tentative return from injury, Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has warned.
Saturday's dead rubber three-point win over the Western Bulldogs at the MCG was a "frustrating" grind for the minor premiers, who couldn't help but have one eye on their imminent September mission.
A number of players were conservative, reflected in their below-average tackle count and lack of renowned pressure.
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Cotchin, after missing last week with hamstring soreness, had just 17 disposals and played just shy of 87 minutes of a possible 117.
He sought treatment on the bench several times throughout the game and was icing his left hamstring and right knee in the rooms afterwards.
Hardwick admitted the Tigers managed their skipper through the final round match but fully expected another week off would make a big difference.
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"He knows when the big stuff is there to play," Hardwick said.
"He plays like a battering ram, you've seen how he plays, so once again it's one of those ones, we were sort of looking to take it a little bit easy on him because we realise how important he is and the way he leads from the front.
"When push comes to shove, he'll be there in a fortnight's time."
WATCH Damien Hardwick's full post-match press conference
The Bulldogs were courageous against the premiers, which was acknowledged by Hardwick after the Tigers withstood a late charge.
But while he said it was good to be "challenged and put a couple of responses in place", they had to be better against whoever finished fourth when the finals start in two weeks.
"If we play like that in a fortnight's time, we'll get beaten. No doubt," he said.
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"I spoke to the players about it before, as tough as it is, I can sit there and make it as important as you want and you sort of hope that players understand the importance but the reality is, it was a dead rubber and we probably played a bit like that.
"That's not being disrespectful to the Bulldogs, I thought they were by far the better side today, they played a really attacking brand of footy and controlled the ball really well, but we just weren't to the level we should be."
During the week, Hardwick said it was time for the Tigers to rediscover their form after a few weeks of less-impressive performances.
Despite another down game, he said it wasn't time to be worried.
"We're on 18 wins so we know how to play, we know how to win … if we play a hell of a lot better," he said.
Five goals to Jack Riewoldt all but confirms he'll become the first Tiger to win three Coleman medals, unless North Melbourne's Ben Brown can kick eight goals against St Kilda on Sunday.
Riewoldt stayed on the field for the entire game and it was clear his teammates – mainly Dustin Martin – were looking for him inside 50, with 24 of their 50 forward forays aimed in his direction.
Hardwick said it affected the way they played but expected their game style to return to normal in two weeks when elements like the Coleman and the game's dead rubber status weren't a factor.
"We don't talk about it, but the players obviously know … subconsciously it's in their mind and they start looking for Jack a little bit more," he said.
"It will sort itself out once this weekend's done and we'll probably get back to a more even spread inside 50 and play a little bit more Richmond-like inside the arcs as well.
"We've had a set of circumstances that are reasonably unique with being set in a position and playing for a Coleman, so we'll get back to some form of normality hopefully in the coming weeks."
The Tigers' VFL team has booked a Saturday night qualifying final against Williamstown at Punt Road next weekend.
Hardwick said Dan Butler would make his case for a senior recall in that game while Kane Lambert would likely be considered for the AFL team's first final without needing game time at VFL level.
