West Coast’s defensive setup, and Richmond’s errors, were the catalyst for the Tigers’ loss on Friday night, according to coach Damien Hardwick.
Despite leading at half time and having chances early in the last quarter to close in on victory, the Tigers fell short by 20 points.
Richmond (6-5) had beaten Collingwood, Port Adelaide, Essendon and previously undefeated Fremantle prior to the bye, surging from 13th on the ladder to seventh before the loss to the Eagles.
Hardwick refused to blame last week’s bye for stalling Richmond's momentum, saying the Tigers couldn't pressure the Eagles enough and that they coughed up possession too easily to West Coast's zone defence.
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"To give up 23 marks to the opposition from our boot is credit to West Coast," Hardwick said.
"They're doing some unbelievable stuff behind the ball. Their zoning behind the ball is as good as we've seen this year and we struggled to get through at times."
Despite the Eagles having more possession (+19), clearances (+5) and inside 50s (+2), the Tigers went in ahead at half-time by three points thanks to a late flurry.
But Hardwick said his side never really gained the ascendancy and he credited star midfielder Dustin Martin (31 disposals, three goals) for keeping Richmond in the contest at the main break.
"We looked off at the start. A lack of intensity I thought and our skills weren't to the level that we know they could be, so we eventually fought our way back into the contest but we probably never looked as if we were going to run away with it," Hardwick said.
"I thought (Martin) was the reason we were in the game at half-time, he was outstanding. He probably quietened a little bit in the second half but we were probably jumping on his back in the first half.
"He made some things happen, he was trying to get our game up and going but unfortunately we didn't have enough guys ready to go with him tonight."
The loss was soured by a groin injury to first-year player Corey Ellis, who will have scans this week to determine the extent of the issue.
Richmond has a tough challenge against the third-placed Sydney Swans at the SCG looming next Friday night.
"We've got a real challenge on our hands next week to go up to Sydney to knock them off on their home track, but we've done it before and we're capable of doing it again," Hardwick said.
