JOSH Caddy will continue to bounce between the forward line and midfield as Richmond continues to get the most out of the in-form Tiger.

The former Gold Coast and Geelong player is in career-best form and is one of the most improved players in the competition, booting 23 goals from eight games so far this season.

Last week the 25-year-old kicked six goals – the most of any of his 125-game career – after teammate Jack Riewoldt went down with concussion early in the Tigers' win over St Kilda.

But don't expect Caddy's recent goal haul to mean he will be settling into attack, despite already passing his career-best season tally of 21 goals (which he kicked the past two seasons).

"Obviously it was documented I came here to play in the midfield and help out there and it transpired the other way and I played probably more forward," Caddy said on Friday.

"But I'm loving my footy at the moment and whatever 'Dimma' (coach Damien Hardwick) needs me to do [I'll do]. If Dustin (Martin) needs a rest down forward I'll go in the midfield, and if we need a forward target I'll play up in the forward line. There's no dramas either way."

Caddy has kicked a goal in every game he's played this year, including five games of three or more, but last week's was especially noteworthy given Riewoldt's absence. It meant the 186cm Caddy had to use his overhead marking and be the Tigers' focal point in a reworked forward half.

"I enjoyed it. Obviously we would have preferred to have had Jack down there, but when he went down I was the oldest player down there," he said.

"Cal Moore was playing his third game and he provided a great target. It was a challenge for me, but something I really enjoyed was to be a leader in the forward line and provide a target for the boys."

Richmond was two players down in its hard-fought win over the Saints last week, with premiership backman Bachar Houli also ruled out early with a groin injury, and was well beaten by West Coast in Perth in round nine.

Hardwick has admitted the reigning flag-winners aren't quite playing at their best, but Caddy said Essendon on Saturday night in the annual Dreamtime at the 'G clash presented a strong challenge.

"It's a long season and we've probably had a little flat patch, but we've still been OK. Essendon is going really well, they're going to be a massive challenge for us, which we always look forward to. A big game at the G in front of a huge crowd against an arch-rival, it's tailor-made for a big night," he said.

The Tigers have regained backman Dylan Grimes for the contest, who replaced the injured Houli. Riewoldt has been cleared to take his place in the side.