Star defender Dylan Grimes feels Richmond are nearing their best football after rediscovering their high-pressure and contested style of game in the convincing 31-point semi-final win over St Kilda.
Their ability to replicate that will be vital against minor premiers Port Adelaide in Friday night's preliminary final at Adelaide Oval.
The Power had 90 more disposals than the Tigers on that night, claimed the inside 50 count 55-24, had 43 extra contested possessions and won centre clearances 20-5, and Grimes admitted the scoreboard had flattered Richmond in a 21-point defeat.
"One thing they did really well was they just countered every punch we threw, and in terms of ball movement and defensively they just had an answer for all of our questions," Grimes said of Port on Sunday.
"I remember that feeling really clearly. We've learned a lot from that game, because that was a game where we tried every trick in the book that we had at that stage and they were just too good.
"When that happens, you're forced to kind of look internally about what you can do better and how you can move the ball better and defensively what you'd change.
"It'll be interesting to see whether those lessons pay off this week."
Richmond, who are based on the Gold Coast this season, will fly to Adelaide on Thursday in preparation for their fourth consecutive preliminary final.
Grimes said incidents involving teammates Trent Cotchin and Tom Lynch in the semi-final had been overplayed and forecast there will not be any change to the side's uncompromising approach at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
"I don't really think there was much to make of it, other than we were just playing the Richmond brand. I don't think other teams would look into that at all, to be honest," Grimes said.
"In other teams, other games this week there were probably other things that happened, so I'm not sure why there's been so much made of this, but we love the brand of footy that both Trent and 'Lynchy' play.
"We're going to try to bring that week in, week out – that physical style of Richmond football.
"Having said that, we like our players playing to the rules and not giving away any free kicks or (50m) penalties, where we can, so that's a focus of ours, but I just think it's a bit of a storm in a teacup, in some ways."
