Richmond defender Troy Chaplin says the Tigers are still capable of taking the next step despite their inability to beat sides above them this season.

The experienced backman, who crossed from Port Adelaide at the end of last season, said the players remained positive despite criticism of the Tigers' performances against better teams.

But he insisted they were on the right track despite losses to Fremantle, Geelong and Essendon, and Collingwood, which is behind Richmond only on percentage.

"I think we've got a little bit of room for improvement in certain areas, but I think that we've been able to match it," Chaplin said.

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"Against Geelong, they kicked six goals in a row and we couldn't stem the flow, they just had their hands on the footy, but for the rest of the game, we matched it with them.

"It was just a period of time and the same thing happened against Collingwood and Essendon on the weekend.

"We've got to learn as a group to stand up and stem the flow and really take the game on, don't go into our shell, and we've got to be confident in our game-plan.

"I still think this group is heading in the right direction. We're 5-4, we're still ahead of the ledger, and there's probably six or seven teams that are going to be fighting to get into the eight, so we've got make the most of our opportunities and take them when they come."

Chaplin said improvement had to come from the team's "middle tier" players to arrest the lapses that were costing them in games.

"We know what we're going to get out of our leaders week in, week out, but it's probably the 12 or 13 other guys," he said.

"You can probably give exception to the younger guys, the Nick Vlastuins and Brandon Ellises, who are in the second and first year.

"Probably the core group have got to play consistent footy week in, week out, and I think that's with every team.

"To be successful, you've got to have those guys playing a 7/10 every week - you can't have inconsistencies in your form. otherwise you drop off."