RICHMOND is positioned to make a better start to 2015 than they did last year, and Damien Hardwick expects he'll have nearly a full list to pick from for round one.
They Tigers lost 10 of their first 13 matches in 2014 with pre-season injuries and fresh ones sustained in the opening rounds cruelling their run.
But after running out something close to their best side against an undermanned Port Adelaide on Saturday, Hardwick believes they're in good shape to make more of an impact early this season.
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"Our list overall is better at this time than it was at this period last year," Hardwick said.
"We had a lot of off-season surgeries. We had 15 operations compared to about five this year, which is always going to be an improvement, but overall I think the capacity of our guys (is better).
"The players we brought in ... you see the addition of Taylor Hunt, Kamdyn McIntosh step up today - the run and carry that we brought into the side with those players is important."
Hardwick conceded his senior players who came in for their first game for the pre-season were rusty at times and the ball use inside 50 was particularly scrappy.
But he was pleased with the second game in yellow and black from former Geelong midfielder Hunt, who had 19 disposals.
"If he plays like that, he's a monty [for round one] as far as I'm concerned," he said.
"He's terrific. His work rate is outstanding and his ability to tackle and win contested ball we're really pleased with.
"He's going to be a welcome addition to us."
Captain Trent Cotchin and defender David Astbury were absent from Saturday's 66-point win in Albury, but are in line to face North Melbourne in a week's time in their final NAB Challenge game.
Astbury played in an intra-club with the VFL squad on Saturday and will be "thereabouts" to face the Kangaroos.
While the Power, missing the majority of their starting line up, didn't provide tough opposition on Saturday, they did give the Tigers more opportunity to toy with their forward structure.
Jack Riewoldt was paired with Tyrone Vickery after he missed the first NAB Challenge win over the Western Bulldogs, with Ben Griffiths making way for the enigmatic spearhead.
Riewoldt kicked one goal before coming off at three-quarter time, but could have had more had he not been unselfish in setting up his teammates.
Hardwick said the Tigers were yet to bed down what their best forward structure was.
"It's tough. 'Griff' could have played this week, but we thought we'd give him one more week just to get his fitness up, then Sam Lloyd comes in and kicks four goals," he said.
"We're pretty lucky that we've got some selection headaches.
"Ben Lennon showed a bit up forward, Ty crashed a couple of enormous packs, so we've got our work cut out for us in that area.
"Feel free to send through an email to the club."
