Tigers look to pounce first-up

RICHMOND must eradicate its stuttering starts to recent seasons if it wants to build a platform for a return to the finals, according to coach Damien Hardwick.

Preparing for tonight’s season-opening clash against Carlton, Hardwick said a plan to get more game time into players during the pre-season hopefully would lead to a more even contribution in the first month of home-and-away games.

The Tigers have won the past two Round 1 contests against the Blues, then failed to capitalise, losing the next six matches in a row last season and dropping four of the next five games in 2015.

“We felt our best start to the season may have been 2013,” Hardwick said.

“It was four practice matches and the majority of our list played two-and-a-half or three games. We tried to get more minutes into our guys this year hoping it then transfers into the regular season.”

Richmond will have four new faces take to the MCG – the traded-in Josh Caddy (Geelong), Dion Prestia (Gold Coast) and Toby Nankervis (Sydney) along with debutant forward Dan Butler, 20.

Carlton named top draft pick Sam Petrevski-Seton, 19, despite the WA midfield product missing the pre-season series with a quad strain.

“He’s had some good match practice, (although) he hasn’t played,” coach Brendon Bolton said of the rookie. “He’s fit and ready.” Defender Caleb Marchbank and runner Jarrod Pickett (both GWS) and utility Billie Smedts (Geelong) will also debut in the navy blue. Picket, a relative of ex-Kangaroos and Port Adelaide star Byron, was the No.4 pick in the 2014 national draft but did not play a game in two years at the Giants.

Hardwick says his team is as healthy going into a season as it has been for some time.

“Our fitness and strength and conditioning staff have done a wonderful job in getting those guys available, and it’s been a really tough process at match committee. The magnets have been flying around non-stop, and it’s a great place to be,” he said.

Richmond has put in the paperwork to upgrade rookie Jason Castagna after a strong pre-season.

Blues coach Bolton said yesterday his young team won’t be measured by wins alone this season.

“But that doesn’t mean that we are going to absolve ourselves from the responsibility of trying to win games.”