In horse-racing parlance, reigning Jack Dyer Medallist Daniel Jackson expects to be better for the run, following his first game of the 2014 season last Saturday.

Despite an interrupted pre-season due to a hamstring injury, Jackson still managed to pick up the second most disposals (23) by a Richmond player in the two-point loss to the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.

“For me, personally, it was nice to be back out there, but I would have much rather come away with the win,” Jackson said on ‘Roar Vision’.

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“Physically, I guess I’m happy with the way I pulled up.

“I’ve only played a game and a half in six months and didn’t do much training over summer.

“I feel fit, but my body’s going to take a little bit (of time), I think, to get back to where it needs to be.

“I found more of the footy that I had in the last few weeks, but I was pretty exhausted by the end.

“Week in, week out, I’ll hopefully be able to fight through a little bit better and have a bit more impact consistently throughout the game.

“I took a little bit of time to get into it in the first quarter, which is unfortunate.”

Jackson had some words of encouragement for disappointed Tiger fans following the Round 3 loss to the Dogs . . .

“It is a long season, but it’s probably not going to be much for the fans to take.  They’re going to be a bit disappointed, as we are, but they’ve just got to have faith like we will,” he said.

“We’re going to keep fighting and fighting, and keep getting better.

“That’s the best thing about footy . . . you get one opportunity, and then you have another one, six or seven days later.

“We’ve certainly got a lot of progress we need to make during the week, but we can make amends, and there’d be no better way to do it than a challenging game against the Pies at the MCG.

“So, get back out there, come and cheer, and we’ll make sure we have a better performance.”