RICHMOND captain Trent Cotchin insists the Tigers won't reflect on their upset exit at this stage last year as they prepare for Friday night's preliminary final against Geelong.

Richmond's premiership defence was brought to a screeching halt in 2018 with a 39-point loss to Collingwood but Cotchin said that wasn't "relevant" this week, instead emphasising focus on "little moments" within Friday's game.

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"You have to be at your best for the majority of the game to give yourself an opportunity but you need to focus on the little moments," Cotchin told reporters on Sunday.

"They're the ones that you want to control going into a clash against a great team."

All smiles for Cotchin. Picture: Getty Images

Cotchin said he couldn't remember his initial reaction to last year's loss.

"There's obviously a little bit of disappointment and frustration," Cotchin said.

"But the reality is I think as a football club and team, we've just celebrated the journey for a long period of time now.

"And that's what we get our enjoyment from – all the little moments, the nuances that make football and being part of a special organisation is what we love about it.

"We won't be dictated to by a result or an outcome, we just want to make sure we give our best in each moment."

Last year, the Tigers enjoyed a dominant home and away season and easily accounted for Hawthorn in their qualifying final before they were knocked out by Collingwood.

This year, Richmond enters the preliminary final on a 10-game winning streak but Cotchin didn't think his side was any better or worse placed than in 2018.

"We're in exactly the same place," Cotchin said.

"We have an opportunity to play in a prelim final against a quality opposition, much the same as last year and what I can say is that we're really confident about what we can bring to games of footy."

Dustin Martin has a laugh at training on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

Heavily criticised after their qualifying final loss against Collingwood, Geelong responded with an impressive victory over West Coast on Friday night and Cotchin said he expected a difficult test on Friday night.

"They were obviously challenged from the external last week, responded really well, started the game strongly and they've got amazing talent with the number of guys that are in their first and second seasons that are really contributing," Cotchin said.

"I don't think you get to a prelim final without having a pretty sound system and process."

Nick Vlastuin tests out his cricket skills. Picture: Getty Images

Meanwhile, he has empathy for Tom Hawkins after the Geelong forward received a one-match suspension for striking West Coast defender Will Schofield in Friday's semi-final.

"Yeah I do (have empathy for Hawkins). I mean, the reality is you want everyone playing - whether it's injury, suspension - we want all of our best players playing the game or everyone given an opportunity," Cotchin said.

"But it is what it is."

Jack Riewoldt looks a natural with a frisbee. Picture: Getty Images

Cotchin faced a nervous wait in 2017 after a bump on GWS's Dylan Shiel in the preliminary final but was found to have no case to answer for the contact, leaving him free to play in that year's decider.

He said waiting for a review of his incident hadn't played on his mind as the Tigers prepared for the Grand Final - which they won - as he focused on the team rather than his own fate.

"It didn't (play on my mind) really," he said.

"I think I was more so celebrating in the fact that we had made it through to our first grand final in a long time and I was just excited about the opportunity for our club, not so much myself.

"And I think that held me in pretty good stead with my thinking and how I prepared that week anyway."

Tom Lynch appears to be struggling with the frisbee. Picture: Getty Images