Notwithstanding the obvious disappointment and frustration that accompanies a loss, whether it’s by one point or 100 points, a key indicator of Richmond’s improvement this season can be measured in losing terms. 

In Damien Hardwick’s debut season as Tiger coach in 2010, the team finished 15th, with six wins, 16 losses and a percentage of 73.  

Nine of Richmond’s losses that season were by 50 points or more, with just three by 21 points or less. 

The Tigers’ average losing margin in season 2010 was 49 points.

Last year, Richmond finished 12th, with eight wins, one draw, 13 losses and a percentage of 86.4.

The team lost five games by 50 points or more, and another five by 20 points or less.

Richmond’s average losing margin in season 2011 was 40 points.

This season, the Tigers sit in 12th place on the league ladder after 18 rounds (17 games), with seven wins, 10 losses and a percentage of 105.6.

They have lost nine games by 21 points or less, with six of them being by 12 points or fewer, and the last three in-a-row by less than a goal (only the eighth time in league history such a sequence of close losses has occurred).

Richmond’s average losing margin so far this season is 14 points.

As a wise man once said, “Winning isn’t everything - it’s the only thing!”  So, while it’s hard to find solace in so many close defeats this year, if the Tigers can learn from all this agonising frustration, they will be well placed to make some serious inroads in the competition next season and beyond.