It’s a whole different ball game for the Richmond players this year, as they prepare for the final home-and-away match of season 2013.

Richmond takes on Essendon in a Saturday night Round 23 clash at the MCG, before embarking on its first finals campaign in 12 years.

With the sweet smell of spring now well and truly in the air, the Tigers are buoyant about what lies ahead over the coming weeks.

“It’s a position where, for the whole time I’ve been at the footy club, this has been our last week of training and the last game this weekend.  So, it’s a totally different feeling, but one that we’re very excited about,” said Richmond’s captain and star midfielder Trent Cotchin.

Richmond has methodically built the foundations for a long-awaited finals appearance throughout the four years of Damien Hardwick’s coaching reign.

“I think that’s the exciting thing for us.  We knew that it was going to be a journey from the moment ‘Dimma’ came in . . . that was the message he gave,” Cotchin said.

“Credit to the guys, we’ve really stuck to the things that we wanted to get out of each season going forward.

“Obviously, last year there was a little bit of disappointment with some close losses and so forth.  But they were all learning curves that we think we’ve benefitted from this season, and it’s held us in good stead . . .

“There are still massive learning capacities for us going forward, but it’s been a good year.”