RICHMOND midfielder Dion Prestia believes the reigning premiers are better-placed than 12 months ago as they return to "where it all started last year" at a brutal training camp in Queensland.

The Tigers formed strong bonds while on the Sunshine Coast last year, using the time away to begin their widely-acclaimed 'Triple H' sessions. 

That camp became a springboard for Richmond's stunning flag triumph and the club has returned for more team-building and another gruelling six days' heat training. 

"It's probably where it all started last year," Prestia said.

"We got a lot out of the camp.

"We obviously train hard but we’ll do a lot of team bonding activities and just getting to know each other better and just building those strong relationships which probably helped a lot during the year last year." 

All eyes will be on the Tigers this year for signs of a premiership hangover, but Prestia is confident his teammates have switched back on after celebrating breaking the club's 37-year drought. 

"I think we're going better than where we were last year," Prestia

"That was going to be a challenge for the boys in the off-season how we come back, but everyone's really impressing on the track.

"All our running times, I know it's not everything, but they're all better than what they were last year. 

"So it's been a real good start.

"We obviously celebrated the grand final victory and everything but once it was time to come back to work everyone knuckled down and came back in great shape. 

"Everyone else is improving and we feel that we have a lot of improvement as well.

"Even coming off a premiership we feel there’s a lot of improvement still to go and it’s just the start."