The Tigers sit 16th on the ladder after four consecutive losses as the possibility of playing finals quickly slips away from Damien Hardwick’s side.
At the end of last year Richmond traded their two first-round picks, a second-round pick and a future first for former GWS players Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper.
This move led most fans and experts to predict the Tigers to make finals once again in 2023.
But with one win from six matches SEN’s Nathan Buckley wonders whether expectations on the Tigers have been placed too high this season.
“We always look at the short term,” Buckley told SEN’s Whateley.
“Do they have to win four games in the next eight? I dunno four games in the next six? Do they have to play finals? Do they have to be contending for a flag this year? There’s only going to be one winner.
“I don't think Richmond have the capacity to be in the premiership window this year.
“They have had too many injuries, too many things go against them and the second half of their list is just too young and inexperienced. It’s a development year and it always has been.
“I think their game looks ok; they’re just not winning at the moment.”
Tigers recruits Taranto and Hopper have been scrutinised over their performances this season given their hefty price tag, but both performed well on Monday night with Buckley believing that Taranto (33 touches, 10 tackles) benefitted from Jayden Short’s return to the side.
“I think Taranto played really well,” Buckley said.
“He looked a lot better with Jayden Short back in the side delivering the football out of the back half. Taranto was actually the bloke who got on the end of a lot of (Short’s) kicks through the midfield so I think he will enjoy having a distributor behind him.
“And Hopper (23 touches, one goal) looked like he played pretty well on the weekend. They’re settling into a new club in a new environment, in a new city, I think they’ll still be good recruits for them.”
The Tigers will look to bounce back in the next couple of weeks with winnable games coming up at home against the Suns and Eagles.