RICHMOND'S Shaun Grigg hopes the lessons taken from the Tigers' agonisingly close losses to the League's leading sides will last much longer than the pain.

The Tigers have missed chances to upset reigning premier Geelong and top-placed West Coast in the past two rounds, drawing level late in both games, but losing both by 10 points.

But Grigg, who has started the season strongly, said coach Damien Hardwick had focused on the positives and the Tigers' chance to post their second win of the season on Sunday, against similarly-placed Port Adelaide.

"They all hurt, but definitely being in the winning position and not getting over the line does," Grigg said on Monday.

"But Port is what we're focused on now.

"The game's gone from yesterday, we'll review it tomorrow, take some positives out and look at the negatives and move on."

Grigg said in the round-four loss to the Cats, Geelong won more of the contested ball in the crucial final stages.

But against West Coast, he said there were no glaring negatives in Richmond's playing style, only a few missed chances.

Stars Brett Deledio and Jack Riewoldt both missed late set shots, one of which would have levelled the game and the other which would have put the Tigers ahead.

Grigg said the pair were class players, who the club would generally expect to kick those goals, but the misses were not highlighted by Hardwick, who instead reinforced what the Tigers did well.

"They're a quality team (West Coast), they played in a preliminary final last year and we really matched them in a lot of stats," Grigg said.

"He just showed us those stats and kept telling us we're not far away."

Grigg said signs of improving form from Riewoldt and fellow tall forward Ty Vickery, after slow starts to the season, were positives.

Port won the clubs' most recent meeting, in Darwin last season, one of only three Power victories all year.

Like Richmond, Port have consistently pushed better-credentialled opponents  this season, but won just one game, setting the scene for a desperate stoush at AAMI Stadium.

"They've had a good start to the season, sort of like us, they've been there or thereabouts," Grigg said.

"They had a good game yesterday against Adelaide, who are in good form.

"We'll just go over there, play our way and keep the hard and tough footy going and try to get the four points."blog comments powered by Disqus