Richmond AFLW coach Ryan Ferguson says his side is heading into Round 3 hungry for its first win of the season. 

Following two narrow losses to Geelong and Adelaide to start Season 7, the Tigers host Hawthorn this Sunday from 4.10pm in the first of two weeks of the AFLW's Indigenous Round. 

"They're very keen to get across the line and continue growing what we're trying to do," Ferguson said.

"(There are) so many positives out of what we've been doing, but just not the fulfilment of getting the result we're after.

And the Tigers, who beat the Hawks by 44 points in a practice match last month, will take confidence into the clash after pushing the reigning premier all the way last weekend in a close nine-point loss.

"(Round 2) was another step in the right direction," Ferguson said.

"We've been competitive with teams for long patches and then been beaten in patches of footy with three or four goals in a row, so to actually control the game for three quarters, while we would have liked to get the result, that's another step on our journey.

"We take huge confidence out of that step and being able to control the game against a really good team, control territory and really put pressure on them.

"The next step is to make sure we get that forward connection and convert."

Ferguson was pleased with the Tigers' forward structure improvement in Round 2, something the team had focused heavily on during the week.

"We've still got a long way to go with it but working for each other, rather than individually, and having multiple options in diversity and attack, we did a lot of work on that during the week and it improved significantly," he said.

"But there's still a huge amount of upside in in that. On the weekend, we weren't able to convert as much as we would have liked, so we still need to get better in that area to make sure we put that scoreboard pressure on teams."

Ferguson lauded key forward Courtney Wakfield's performance last Saturday, showcasing her strong contested marking ability as she booted two goals.

"She straightens us up and gives us a genuine marking target. And if she doesn't mark it she generally brings it to ground," Ferguson said.

"She's got areas of her game that she's continually working on too, that's another reason why we love her, she's hungry to improve each week.

"Her pressure is interesting too, she's our highest pressure player as a key forward. She laid five tackles (in Round 2) and her pressure point was the highest of any of our forwards, which is a great weapon of hers and shows what she's about, and is also a challenge for our small forwards."

Utility Maddie Shevlin is set to notch up her 25th AFLW game on Sunday, 12 of which will have been played for Richmond since she arrived from Collingwood ahead of last season.

"(She's shown) great resilience to stick at her game and work through some challenges," Ferguson said.

"Since she's walked through our doors, (we've seen) her investment in our program, her teammates and her love of the game. All forms of footy, men's footy, women's footy, local footy.

"She's a student of the game and she loves it and we love her enthusiasm."