Richmond’s decision to rest its veteran players on a rotational basis this season is paying handsome dividends.

The Tigers have given triple premiership stars Jack Riewoldt, Dion Prestia and Trent Cotchin a game off respectively in the opening nine rounds of the season.

They all subsequently had a significant impact first-up from a spell.

01:39

Dion's day out

Prestia fires up the Tigers by kicking three in the third against the Eagles.

Riewoldt was rested for the Round 7 match against Western Bulldogs at the MCG and returned the following week with a four-goal display v Sydney at Adelaide Oval.

Prestia, who was given the Round 7 clash with Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium off, kicked three goals against West Coast at the MCG in Round 8.

And Cotchin, after being rested for the Round 8 fixture v the Eagles, scored three goals in last Friday night’s Round 9 clash with Geelong.

00:43

Round 9: Cotchin kicks two in a row as Tigers tick

Trent Cotchin notches consecutive goals in style as Richmond continues to roll early.