Richmond coach Damien Hardwick believes a victory over quality opposition will help ignite the Tigers’ season, but is adamant his side must play consistent football if it is to beat Geelong at the MCG on Sunday.

Hardwick declared that Richmond embraces the challenge of playing against the competition’s best, and sees this as an opportunity for the Tigers to bounce back from their 11-goal loss to Hawthorn last weekend.

“It’s exciting. I think as a player, and as a coaching group, we like to play the good sides. You always give yourself a chance and you just want to go out and play your best game of footy that you can,” Hardwick said.

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“There have been stages throughout our games, [where] two or three quarters have been okay, but one quarter has let us down, and that’s the disappointing thing from our form point of view. So, we’re looking to eradicate those mistakes. 

“We need to make sure we consistently do the things well all of the time.” 

Despite a tough start to the season, and another big test against the Cats, Hardwick insists that the Tigers have the ability and determination to turn their situation around. 

“They play an exciting brand of footy, they back their players in ‘one-v-one’, and that’s what happens when you’ve got highly-talented players. You’re prepared to kick to your player and back them in, and that’s the way the way they play their footy,” he said.

“I back our players in every day of the week, our coaching staff also. We’re playing a good side, it’s going to be tough, but we know that if we put our best game forward, and play to the best of our ability, we’re a deadest chance.

“We’re one game out of the eight. It is an incredibly long season, it is a very even season. 

“We’ve just got to make sure we start winning some games, and start winning some games quickly.”