Richmond’s 43-point victory over Brisbane in Round 5 mightn’t have been all that pretty, but key defender Troy Chaplin believes it could well have an important flow-on effect – a timely confidence boost.

“It’s obviously been a disappointing start to the year.  We haven’t been playing the same way as what we were last year,” Chaplin said on SEN.

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“Our ball movement, we just haven’t been able to get up and going.

“I think in the second half (against the Lions), halfway through that third quarter, we were able to move the ball a little bit more freely and get the game on our terms . . .  

“I think the boys walked away from the game a little bit more confident in the way we’re going about it now.”

Chaplin added that the rise in self-belief levels would be crucial in tackling reigning premier Hawthorn at the MCG next Sunday.

“We’ve got a reasonable record against them, but it’s not going to be easy, and we need to make sure that we’re on our game,” he said.

“We can’t go back into our shells.  We need to take the game on because I think we play our best football when we try and create.

“So, that’s no doubt what we’re going to try and do.”