Richmond's coaching staff have returned from a US fact-finding mission optimistic the club's elimination final loss to Port Adelaide will not affect the players long-term.
Damien Hardwick and two other coaches visited elite clubs from America's three major sporting codes – the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball – in part to find out how the Tigers can minimise any "mental scarring" the 57-point loss to Port Adelaide might have caused, and to ensure it does not turn into repeated finals failures, as it has for clubs in other major sports around the world.
Hardwick said the advice received helped the coaches understand the reality of Richmond's situation, and what it had to do to ensure it did not become a recurring one.
"Every side has a story," Hardwick told the club's website.
"Every failure is another opportunity to develop and that's the way we've got to look at it. There's no million-dollar answer out there that you're looking for.
"The fact of the matter is it's all hard work and every side's trying to improve and get better. You've got to earn your right to get back there and give yourself a go."
The Tigers entered last year's finals after a nine-game winning streak – including an away win over grand finalist Sydney in the final round – but were stunned in the first week of the finals by Port Adelaide's 14-goal first-half onslaught.
Hardwick said a review of the match produced a few "home truths".
A comparison between the West Coast teams of 2002-04 and the Tigers is also part of Hardwick's positive outlook. John Worsfold's Eagles lost in the first week of the finals against Essendon (33 points), Adelaide (56 points) and Sydney (41 points) in that period.
"They lost three elimination finals and two years later they win a grand final [in 2006]," Hardwick said.
