In a breakthrough season and run into the Finals, Richmond VFL coach Jake Batchelor was able to lead his side beyond the Wildcard Round and into an Elimination Final, something that the group has been aiming to reach for three seasons.
And while it didn't go to plan last Saturday against Brisbane at Brighton Homes Arena, it's hard to ignore the progress Batchelor's men have made in season 2025.
Harry Scott (21 disposals), Lachlan Wilson (20 disposals) and Austin Johnson (17 disposals), led the way for the side in the loss, with Batchelor proud of how the young group stood tall away from home.
"I'm just so proud of our season. 11 or 12 blokes in the room put their hands up (to say) they're within one or two years of being a senior footballer," Batchelor said post match.
"Some of them are first year at our Club, learning the game plan, learning the players, feeling a part of it. We take a lot out of the year."
The Tigers pushed the Lions, nabbing a two-point lead at the final break, before a strong Brisbane comeback that saw the visitors fall short by 20 points.
While it was disappointing, Batchelor believes the impressionable group can take learnings from a more-mature Brisbane side.
"Brisbane showed that they're a more Finals-styled unit. Bigger bodies and absorbed pressure a lot better than we did," he said.
"There were a lot of little things that showed we were off a little bit. I still think we played a really strong game.
"The fact of the matter is that it's Finals football. Weight of numbers, we were never going to win. (Lack of) inside 50s, which has been a trend of ours, losing territory and stoppage off that, and going against the wind in the last quarter, we just struggled to move the ball.
"Proud of our efforts, we just weren't good enough."
And while September hopes were cut short on Saturday, Batchelor knows the growth has occurred in the midst of injury struggles across the programs.
"We went one step further than we did last year. We won a final and got into the top eight. That's growth right in your face," he said.
"Our connection, our compliance of game plan, individual growth that we've seen in VFL and AFL-listed players. I don't think anyone can argue that from where we were in Round 1 against Coburg, to how we played (against Brisbane), we are exponentially a better football team.
"We've used a lot of VFL players this year and AFL-listed. That's always the battle. There's a lot of injuries at AFL level, so how do you keep the connection and continuity of the team?
"I'm proud of our effort, which we always show."
