RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick believes the growing maturity of his team to win in contrasting conditions will hold it in good stead for the finals, after slogging its way to a 27-point win over Essendon on a rain-sodden MCG on Saturday night. 

Hardwick was pleased that his players were able overcome a determined Bombers outfit in a contested-ball fest in the wet without the leadership of skipper Trent Cotchin, who is managing a back issue.

"There's no doubt the side's grown, and you expect that over a period of time," Hardwick said.

Five talking points: Essendon v Richmond

"Especially without the captain there, but with Ivan (Maric) and Brett (Deledio) standing up, I thought they were terrific in those areas.

"(With) the maturity of the group, I can't pat them on the back enough in that area – how we can win a fast, uncontested game, but we've also got the ability to play in the arm wrestles as well, as we've shown over the course of the year.

"They've got a greater understanding now of when and what is required."

Richmond moved into fourth spot, but it might only be momentarily, with Sydney facing St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

To earn the double chance, the Tigers will need to beat North Melbourne next week and hope other results go their way – that the Swans lose to either the Saints or Gold Coast, and the Western Bulldogs don't have a huge percentage-boosting win over the Brisbane Lions.

"We can hope," Hardwick said when asked whether he'd be barracking for an upset on Sunday.

"The Saints are playing some good footy at Etihad (Stadium) but I'm not one to do the ladder predictor; I just worry about what we can control, and that's our game versus North Melbourne next week.

"They were probably disappointed with their performance today and they'll be looking to come out and rectify that, so it's going to be a really hot contest.

"We'll just wait and see what happens …

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"It's going to be a different game next week. It's going to be inside at Etihad (with) fast ball movement. We haven't played there for a while, so it's going to be another challenge for us."

Hardwick was satisfied to post a comfortable victory but wasn't happy with the Tigers' stoppage work in their defensive arc.

"We gave up 4.1 from forward 50 stoppages, which is horrendous," he said.

"You might give up four goals in 10 games (but) we gave up four goals in one. Take out those four goals and we only give up three or four possibly for the game. We can't have that."

Hardwick was relieved that Deledio appeared to escape injury after being heavily dumped in a sling tackle by Courtenay Dempsey.

"The lifting, to me, is dangerous," he said of the incident.

"The sling, to me, is – I'd better be careful how I say this – is part of AFL footy. But as soon as you lift, I think you're in a bit of trouble. You probably owe the duty of care.

"I've got no doubt Courtenay didn't mean it … but now it's probably changed a little bit with the goalposts moving in that area.

"I'm just glad everyone walked away OK."

The Tigers coach declared Cotchin would return for the clash with the Kangaroos. He said that if Saturday night's game had been a final, the skipper would have been "touch and go" to play.

"He's been a little bit sore, obviously, and he's been battered around for the last couple of weeks. To push it he probably could (have played) but the fact of the matter is he's too valuable a player to put in that situation," Hardwick said.

"We were quite happy to leave him out of the side this week and get him back for next week."