Richmond’s Physical Performance Manager Peter Burge doesn’t subscribe one iota to the theory that the Tigers are disadvantaged in their preparations for season 2018 because of this year’s premiership triumph.

The Grand Final victory over Adelaide on September 30 meant it’s taken until this week for the entire Richmond playing group to return to pre-season training.

Burge, however, is convinced the Tigers’ late finish to season 2017 has them in good shape to tackle this pre-season.

“People may perceive it (the pre-season period) as delayed . . . we don’t view it that way,” Burge told ‘Roar Vision’.

“We played three high-intensity finals football games and our VFL team played in four. So we’re actually looking at it that we’ve got those extra weeks of high-intensity conditioning in our bodies.

“The return is really only a week or two later than what it was last year. There’s one less JLT (Community series) pre-season game next year as well.

“So the pre-season is actually about the same length as what it was last year, the way we’re looking at it.

“We’ve got a really well-prepared group, who’ve come back off their breaks doing programs . . .

“For us, it’s business as usual.”