Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says the team's poor performance in 2014 has been due to its best players not playing well enough.

He said it was unfair to lay the blame on ‘recycled’ players who had been recruited to the Club to play a role.

Hardwick said the media emphasis on that element of Richmond's recruiting had been overplayed.

"The reality is our best players haven't played to the standard that is required of them," Hardwick said.

Richmond sits 16th with just three wins in 13 games after making the finals in 2013.

Hardwick said the club was continuing to assess its list but remains guarded about the direction the club will take. He said the team had clearly underperformed but the list was more capable than it had shown this season.

"It's a bit like climbing Everest. You go up one base camp you come down to the next and you have to go back up again. This [year] is a speed hump. We probably expected one at some stage. We're disappointed with the extent of it this year," Hardwick said.

It faces bottom-of-the-ladder St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Saturday in Martin's 100th game. The Saints have won 10 of the past 11 encounters between the two clubs at Etihad Stadium.

Hardwick admitted he had been surprised with the impact Anthony Miles has been able to have in the past few weeks. Richmond's ability to win contested ball in the midfield has improved since he came into the team and Hardwick indicated Miles had proved a find.

"He's just one of those guys that gets it done at every level," Hardwick said. "It's a real credit to him."

Hardwick said the club had not used the ball as directly as it would have liked against the Sydney Swans. He said that issue had been discussed this week and the Tigers planned to move the ball forward with more consistency.