EVEN if Richmond doesn't make the finals this year, coach Damien Hardwick thinks the club's fast finish to the season will hold it in good stead for 2015 and beyond.
The Tigers' six-game winning streak has put them within touching distance of an unlikely finals position after winning three of their first 13 games.
They face another another stern test against fellow top-eight hopefuls Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night, and even if their late run is ultimately unsuccessful, Hardwick thinks there are gains to be made.
"Our boys have dug deep. There's no doubt. We were out on our feet at 3-10 playing some disappointing footy for various reasons. But the guys have managed to find something and get their season back on track," he said on Friday.
"[That's] not to say we're going to make it, we're not too sure, but there's no doubt we've learnt some lessons from the first part of the year where we didn't cover injury well, and we weren't performing to the level required.
"We've got to make sure we take it out and finish out the season."
Fresh from a strong win over Essendon last week, the Tigers will meet the Crows with some confidence, particularly with an on-ball brigade that has stepped up its contested possession count during the hot streak.
They have also won three games interstate this season, most recently a dogged 17-point victory over West Coast in round 18 at Patersons Stadium.
"Every game from here on is cut-throat so we need to make sure we put our best foot forward and play some good contested footy and get the ball played in our half," Hardwick said.
Midfielder Dan Jackson will play for the club's VFL side this weekend as he returns from a glute injury, with Hardwick saying Jackson will play up to three quarters.
"We really haven't had a 100 per cent [fit] Dan Jackson throughout the course of the year, so he'll be really important hopefully for the last couple of games when he gets back. We've just got to make sure he gets through footy unscathed," he said.
