Richmond’s immediate focus is on the first portion of the 2014 season, as it aims for back-to-back finals appearances.
The Tigers are embracing the expectation that comes with the Club breaking its finals drought last season, but are not looking too far ahead.
"All we really need to do is focus on that first part of the year, set ourselves up to give ourselves the opportunity to play finals again, but we're confident we're good enough to do that,” Richmond General Manager of Football Dan Richardson told SEN on Wednesday morning.
"There was expectation on us last year as well to make finals so it was obviously pleasing to achieve that, even though we're still disappointed and we learned a lot from that final game.
Richmond’s Family Day is coming home in 2014 and is at the ME Bank Centre on Sunday, February 16. Click here to register to attend the day.
"We embrace that expectation. I don't think there's anything wrong with a little bit of pressure on you and putting a bit of pressure on yourselves to perform.”
The majority of the Tigers' list is back in or close to full training, although a handful of players including Ivan Maric, Jake King and Ricky Petterd are being managed.
Jack Riewoldt (knee and hip), Reece Conca (hamstring) and Chris Knights (knee) are coming back from surgery – Knights from the sickening knee injury he sustained in round seven last year – but are training well now.
Be ‘Strong and Bold’ by becoming a Richmond member in 2014
Richardson said they were optimistic of having most of the list available for their first pre-season match against Melbourne on February 14, with coach Damien Hardwick keen to play a strong side.
"Like most clubs we've got half a dozen players who have got little niggles who are not necessarily participating in every session, but they're starting to come good," he said.
"Generally speaking, a couple of guys like Reece Conca and Jack had slightly slow starts pre-Christmas but they're starting to come back into it.
"Hopefully we can lead into the first few games with pretty much a full list, touch wood, but we've got a bit of work to get through and like any club, your fitness staff and your coaching staff are pushing them to the limits to prepare them for the season.
"That's balanced with pushing them to the edge, and I think every club would run the risk of breaking players down but, touch wood, all our staff are doing a great job and we're going OK.”
Tiger focus on fast start
Richmond’s immediate focus is on the first portion of the 2014 season, as it aims for back-to-back finals appearances.