Richmond coach Damien Hardwick firmly believes the Tigers of 2017 are far better placed to handle the challenges of finals football than at any stage during his time at the Club.

The three consecutive elimination final losses suffered by Richmond from 2013-15 are a distant memory for Hardwick now, as he eagerly awaits the Tigers’ 2017 September campaign.

“This side is a lot better . . . more consistent. They play a game style that I feel is certainly finals calibre,” Hardwick said.

“We play it a bit differently because we had to.

“The personnel, the leadership, and the way they play the game, is going to hold us in good stead.

“We play a high-pressure game, a high-contested game, a high-tackle game.

“Those are the sort of things that finals footy is all about.

“Our guys love it the way they play the game. It is not the prettiest game that we play at certain stages, but it is fast, physical and pressured.

“They are a lot better than what I have coached in the past, no doubt.

“It’s certainly a unique group. I said after the game on the weekend (v St Kilda), when we clinched top four, a lot of people have said why we can’t do it, and the reasons why we can’t win, but our guys stick to the process.

“They don’t worry about the outcome too much and we know if we get the template right, and we play to the best of our ability on those measurables, then we are really hard to beat.”