RICHMOND boss Brendon Gale expects to see superstar Dustin Martin back at his brilliant best next year as the Tigers seek to atone for an "uncharacteristic" campaign.

Martin managed just nine games last season as Richmond clawed its way into the finals before being eliminated in week one.

The Tigers have loaded up again for 2023, with the acquisition of boom recruits Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper laying bare their premiership ambition.

And a fit-again Martin is crucial to the plan.

The 31-year-old joined his teammates for pre-season training at Punt Road on Monday, eager to build a strong platform over summer.

"He's an impeccably well prepared athlete," Richmond CEO Gale said.

"A lot of people probably wouldn't get that impression, but he is. He's really finely tuned and he's really, really proud.

"He's played at a very, very high level for a long time and that's not going to continue forever, but he's still got a very, very important role to play at our football club.

"He's well supported and we expect him to respond this year.

"He had a really tough year, coming back from a fairly significant injury to start with, and the tragic loss of his father.

"He's been training pretty hard, he's been away up north, and he's been doing a fair bit of boxing away from the club.

"He's a proud athlete and he's a proud man and he'll look forward to getting back in the swing of things, that's for sure."

Gale also said coach Damien Hardwick has a fire in his belly for 2023 after the heartbreaking elimination final defeat to Brisbane in September.

Richmond won its last four home and away games to secure a top-eight spot but was knocked out in a pulsating two-point loss at the Gabba.

"(Hardwick) probably wasn't that enthusiastic about the way we finished up last year," Gale said.

"It was an uncharacteristic year and we're looking forward to atone."

Hardwick is overseas on a holiday and study tour but will return in the coming weeks.