A FRUSTRATED Damien Hardwick has lamented Richmond's lack of forward pressure and inability to deliver the ball efficiently inside 50, as his side suffered a disappointing 19-point loss to the Western Bulldogs.

The Tigers were ahead on nearly every area of the stat sheet on Saturday at the MCG, but failed to capitalise.

Hardwick's side had more disposals (403-326), won more contested ball (144-126) and led the inside 50 entries 54 to 48 but butchered the ball going forward.

Click here for full match coverage and stats

The Tigers could only manage three loose ball gets and five tackles in their attacking half, areas that needs quick improvement if they are to challenge for a spot in the top eight.

"The delivery inside 50 wasn't good enough and when there was a contest they were just harder at that part of the game," Hardwick said after the game.

"We've just got some areas of our game, which while were incredibly frustrating today, we can fix, should fix and will fix.

"But unfortunately it's cost us a win and that's something we need to take on board and get better at.

"We just couldn't get a contest [in the forward 50] which is really disappointing. We picked some competitors down there but between our forwards and our midfield we just couldn't get the ball contained inside our forward 50.

“In the modern game, you're not going to win many games of footy if that's the case, so we've only got ourselves to blame but full credit to a young side on the way up. They were terrific and they're going to well and truly challenge for the bottom half of the eight."

WATCH: Damien Hardwick's full press conference

Hardwick admitted his side was "a little bit one-dimensional" going forward with the Tigers choosing to kick long to the goalsquare rather than look at other options.

Spearhead Jack Riewoldt was quiet in the first half, taking just one mark and gathering three disposals, and often had to battle against two or three Bulldogs defenders.

He finished the game with nine disposals, including five marks, and kicked two goals but missed several golden opportunities in the second half when the game was in the balance.

Fellow key forward Ben Griffiths pushed further up the ground and had seven marks and five inside 50s but like Riewoldt had little impact on the scoreboard.

The Tigers travel to Brisbane next weekend to face the Lions at the Gabba.