Nathan Foley provided one of the few positives for Hardwick with a 23-disposal performance, while new recruit Shaun Grigg gathered a game-high 29 touches. Alex Rance was also one of the Tigers to impress and improved as the game progressed.
However, those efforts were little consolation to Hardwick who was scathing in his assessment of the team that faces Carlton in the premiership season opener at the MCG in less than two weeks.
"It was really disappointing … for them [Adelaide] to kick seven goals [unanswered] in the last quarter was soul destroying in a way," Hardwick said.
"We had a big chat about it and we'll go away and address a few things, but we've got to get a hell of a lot better if we're going to compete to a reasonable level in round one.
"It was really disappointing the way we finished off."
Richmond failed to register a score in a lopsided final term in which the Crows booted 7.1.
Adding to Hardwick's displeasure was the fact that such a limp effort came on the back of an encouraging third quarter where the Tigers outscored Adelaide three goals to one.
Crows coach Neil Craig was highly animated during his three-quarter time address to his players and got the desired result.
"We responded really well in the last which was good for us," Craig said. Crows forward Taylor Walker was outstanding with seven goals.
Richmond 2.0 5.1 8.6 8.6 (54)
Adelaide 7.4 10.7 11.13 18.14 (122)
GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 2, Post 2, Morton, Edwards, Nahas, Grigg
Adelaide: Walker 7, Knights 3, Reilly 2, McKernan, Vince, S Thompson, Mackay, Douglas, Moran
BEST
Richmond: Foley, Rance, Martin, Nahas, Grigg
Adelaide: Walker, Mackay, van Berlo, Doughty, Tambling, Davis, Vince, Reilly, Knights
INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
Adelaide: Nil
REPORTS
Richmond: Nil
Adelaide: Nil
CROWD
2000 (est.) at Visy Park
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
