Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale says the Tigers' sole objective is on winning, but admits a lack of talent and player unavailability is hurting the team.

The Tigers have recorded their worst start to a season since 2010, and last Saturday night's 35-point loss to Port Adelaide was the club's fifth straight defeat for the first time since 2011.

Gale acknowledged the club's offensive structure was "breaking down" in the opening six rounds, but said the playing list as a whole had the potential to turn around its fortunes.

"I think our list has proven that we are more than capable and I still believe in the capability of our list," Gale told Melbourne radio station to 3AW on Monday night.

"For us to go to the next step, we need to continue to build … and bring in quality. Could we use better players? Of course we can, and our experience in the last couple of finals campaigns would highlight that.

"When we have our best team, or close to our best team available, we're more than a competitive footy team, but when we lose players who are unavailable, I think we lack depth."

The Tigers will take on Hawthorn at the MCG this Friday night without captain Trent Cotchin (cheekbone) and fellow onballer Kane Lambert (punctured lung, cracked rib) after the pair were injured against the Power.

All Australian defender Alex Rance will also miss the game after being handed a two-game suspension for his hit on Melbourne's Jack Watts in round five.

Gale said the club would continue to support senior coach Damien Hardwick, and the Tigers' chief would not be drawn into discussing whether drastic changes were needed if the losing trend continued.

"Damien is a good coach and he'll only get better," Gale said.

"The way they're playing isn't reflective on the way they're coached. There's something lost in translation there and so we're really keen to address that.

"Those bigger, broader issues around list, there'll be a time and a place for that, but right now the focus is on getting back and winning."

Despite having a membership base of over 70,000, a crowd of only 27,077 watched the Tigers take on the Power at the MCG.

Gale said he fully understood why supporters were "dispirited" by the Tigers' poor start to the season, but was remaining optimistic.

"We're disappointed but we're not dispirited … we're working very, very hard to find the answers and turn this team around," he said.

"I understand why people are disappointed and that's reflected in the crowd numbers."