THE FINAL margin was six goals but Richmond's loss to Adelaide felt like a 100-point belting, according to coach Damien Hardwick.
Hardwick also rejected suggestions the Tigers were suffering a comedown from the high of last week's stunning win over reigning premier Hawthorn.
Adelaide dominated Richmond in just about every aspect of the game and if it hadn't been for the Crows' inaccurate goalkicking – 11 goals, 22 behinds – the result would have been an absolute hiding.
Click here to watch Damien Hardwick's full post-match press conference
"To be honest, it felt like a hundred-point loss in the coach's box and our players felt the same thing," Hardwick said.
"We got obliterated in contest ball (151-118), tackles (73-55) and clearances (50-27).
"We were never in the game.
"On form tonight they were as good a side as we've played this year."
Brett Deledio's late withdrawal through illness was a major blow, given the Tigers' dismal record without the star midfielder. Richmond has now lost seven of its past nine games without him.'
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"We prepared to play without him, he was pretty crook," Hardwick said.
"The fact of the matter is you bring another soldier in to replace him and it shouldn't result in a game like that."
The Tigers also lost the inside 50 count, 74 to 38, and only produced 12 shots at goal for the entire match.
"When you've got [Ben] Griffiths, Deledio and [Shane] Edwards out, your scoring power is always going to be a little bit diminished," Hardwick said.
"We still expect to kick a winning score but defensively we know we can keep a side to 10-12 goals and give ourselves a chance to win.
"It's an area of our game we have to improve."
Five talking points: Adelaide v Richmond
Jack Riewoldt played under duress after copping a knee to his back in the second quarter while defender Dylan Grimes was subbed out with a knee injury.
"We have to wait on scans but they're precautionary at this stage," Hardwick said.
"[Grimes] has obviously had an injury history with us so we'll bide our time with that one."
Hardwick denied Richmond had bought into its own hype after defeating premiership favourites Hawthorn last week.
"Sides are going to lose games," Hardwick said.
"We've won 20 out of 27 games."
"There are not many sides that have won as many games as our boys and I'll back our side in to continue to win games."
"We'll review it, our players will take stock and they'll bounce back."
