Richmond coach Damien Hardwick insists the Tigers remain firmly focused, despite their 2016 finals hopes being dashed several weeks ago, with the players and coaching staff keen to continue using the remainder of this season as a springboard for next year.

The 13-placed Tigers face St Kilda at the MCG on Saturday afternoon and Sydney at the SCG in Round 23, before their season ends ahead of the finals for the first time since 2012. 

“Although we can't make finals this year, we've got to prepare as if we are next year,” Hardwick said.

“To their credit, Trent (Cotchin) and his leaders have done a terrific job. 

“We’ve just got to continue to challenge ourselves . . . We’re hoping to take a lot of what we’re doing now into that (2017) season . . .

“To see players in some different positions, to trial a couple of things . . . that's a challenge for our players.

“We're looking at things that may take us forward, including personnel.

“There’s going to be a couple of changes, and we look forward to seeing some of those players having the chance to shine in the last two weeks . . .

“We’ve been disappointing this year – we accept that.  We haven’t played well enough in a lot of areas of our game.

“So the challenge for us, going forward, is to continue to improve in all those areas . . . We know we have to get better in a lot of areas.”