RICHMOND midfielder Jake King says the Tigers are determined to become an experienced and professional unit like the Sydney Swans, after receiving a lesson in team-orientated football on Sunday.

King, 25, agreed with coach Jade Rawlings' summation that the main difference between the two sides in their 55-point loss was the Swans' determination to play together as a team.

King said the Tigers were doing all they could to ensure that side of their game developed as their young list becomes more experienced.

"The Swans played for each other and as a team, and each individual has a role and sticks to it," King said after the game.

"No matter how many good players you've got in the side, if you've got a side that sticks together, it's always going to win.

"I think our boys are just a bit young and lacking some experience under pressure when the game is pretty much there to be won.

"We play for each other, and I don't think anyone means to do the wrong thing, it's just that everyone is still learning and we've still got a little way to go.

"There are positive signs. The boys do stick together off the field and try to get around, because we like to put it all behind us as soon as we can so we can focus on it the following week."

Rawlings questioned the Tigers' culture after the game, and said the problem rested with a lack of consistent effort when confronted with challenges.

King said while the players were aware of the problem, he found it hard to question his teammates' dedication to each other.

"I get along with each and every one of these boys really well, and I don't have a problem with anyone of them that walks the field on any day," he said.

"I know they're going to look me in the eye and do everything for me, and I'll do anything for them.

"It's just we haven't had an answer for this for the past five or six years, so I don't think it's going to be something we can fix quickly.

"It's just something we need to work on."

King, who was arguably the Tigers' best player for his successful shut down job on Rhyce Shaw, said he would exchange his solid performance for a better result for the team.

"Rhyce is one of their most damaging ball users. He leads the running bounces for the competition, and is just a real damaging player off half-back," he said.

"My instructions were to stick by him and play on him as much as I could, and not give him that freedom to run and to make the day pretty miserable for him.

"I tried to do that, it worked to a certain point, and he wasn't too happy with some things that were said and done.

"It was good to get a couple of kicks, but when the team loses, it's like everything is numb and your individual performance goes out the door.

"I'd rather give everything I did today for the team to get the four points on the board."

Rawlings described King's game against Shaw as "disciplined and hungry", and said his performance against the experienced Swan was the Tigers' "biggest win".