Checklist: Preparing for an AFL Finals Series the Richmond Way

So, you’ve navigated the home-and-away season, and the real stuff is about to begin. The finals. The air gets colder, the pressure gets hotter, and every moment is magnified. For the Richmond Football Club, the dynasty era wasn’t built on talent alone; it was forged through a specific, relentless, and unified approach to September football.

This isn't just about playing well. It's about preparing with a purpose, a mindset, and a set of non-negotiables that became the hallmark of the Yellow and Black in their most glorious years. Whether you're a player, a coach, or a fan wanting to understand the machinery behind the magic, this checklist breaks down how to prepare for an AFL finals series, Richmond style.

Let’s get you finals-ready.

What You'll Need

Before we dive into the steps, you need the right foundation. Think of this as gathering your tools before building something great.

A Unified "We, Not Me" Mentality: The core of everything. Individual brilliance shines brightest within a team framework.
A Relentless Work Ethic: Talent gets you to September; brutal, honest work wins you flags.
A Trusted Inner Circle: Your coaches, your leaders, your core group. People who will tell you the hard truths.
A Connection to Your Why: For Richmond, it was the fans, the 37-year drought, and then, the pursuit of prestige. What’s driving you?
Access to a "Sacred" Space: For the Tigers, this was Punt Road Oval. Your training base needs to be a fortress of focus.

The Step-by-Step Process: Building Your September

1. Lock In the "Richmond Man" Ethos

This was Damien Hardwick’s masterpiece. Preparing for finals starts months prior, by building a squad of "Richmond Men" – players defined by selflessness, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to the team's trademark pressure. In finals, where game plans get dissected, this ethos becomes your unbreakable base. It’s the famous "one-percenters": the shepherd from Dion Prestia, the desperate spoil from a defender, the chase-down tackle. Every player, from Dustin Martin to the youngest debutant, is judged on this. Before you even think about match-ups, ask: Is everyone bought in, completely?

2. Embrace the Embrace (The Hardwick Hug)

It sounds simple, but it’s profound. Hardwick’s shift to open vulnerability and connection wasn’t just a feel-good story; it was a strategic weapon. Finals pressure can isolate players. Counter it by fostering an environment where pressure is shared. Regular, genuine connection—whether it’s a coach’s arm around a player or players supporting each other—builds a psychological safety net. When the crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground is roaring, you’re not alone; you’re in the arms of your brothers. This step is about actively fighting the isolation of pressure with deliberate unity.

3. Simplify the Game Plan to "Our Football"

By finals time, you’re not installing new tricks. You’re sharpening your identity. For Richmond, this meant distilling their plan down to its essence: chaos. Relentless forward-half pressure, hunting in packs, and quick, direct ball movement. Players like Bachar Houli launching from defense or Toby Nankervis creating chaos at ground level were executing a system they knew by heart. Your preparation must involve drilling your brand of football until it’s instinctual. When the mind gets fuzzy with finals nerves, the body must know what to do.

4. Empower Your Leaders to Own the Moment

Tactics are prepared by coaches, but games are won by players on the field. Damien Hardwick famously empowered his leaders. Trent Cotchin’s fierce, lead-by-example physicality set the tone in the 2017 finals series. Jack Riewoldt’s emotional voice and selfless role-playing unified the forward line. This step is about the coaching group stepping back just enough to let the leaders drive standards. In the rooms before a final, it’s Cotchin and Martin who the players are looking at. Prepare them to own that space.

5. Cultivate Finals-Specific Role Players

Great teams have stars, but dynasties have role players who become finals specialists. Think of Alex Rance in the 2017 finals, completely dismantling opposition forwards with his athleticism and will. Or Dion Prestia, "the Meatball," whose grunt work at the contest was invaluable. Identify the players whose specific skills will be most potent in the cauldron. Maybe it’s a lockdown defender, a pressure forward, or a bash-and-crash midfielder. Drill them on their specific, season-defining jobs for the next four weeks.

6. Visualize the Scenario, Embrace the Grind

The Tigers didn’t just hope to be in close games; they prepared for them. Training sessions at Punt Road would simulate high-pressure scenarios: three points down with two minutes to go. They rehearsed the chaos. Furthermore, they embraced the unique grind of a finals campaign—the travel, the intense scrutiny, the week-by-week survival. Mental preparation involved accepting that nothing would come easy, just as their 2019 premiership path didn’t, and that the reward was worth the struggle. Visualize the tough moments and see yourself thriving in them.

7. Protect the Space, Create a Sanctuary

Your preparation environment is sacred. For Richmond, Punt Road Oval became a bunker during finals. Media access is controlled, outside noise is minimised, and the focus is turned inward. This step is about actively building a wall between your group and the external hype or criticism. It’s in this sanctuary that the real work—the honest reviews, the brutal training drills, the vulnerable conversations—happens. Protect it at all costs.

8. Channel History, But Don't Be Burdened By It

This is a delicate balance. The 2017 AFL Grand Final was about channelling 37 years of pain into a focused fury—"breaking the drought." The 2019 flag was about proving it wasn’t a fluke, and the 2020 premiership was about cementing a legacy as a modern powerhouse. Use your history as fuel, not as a weight. Acknowledge the past, then firmly place your focus on writing the next chapter. The previous flag means nothing once the first final siren sounds.

Pro Tips & Common Mistakes to Avoid

Pro Tip: Find Your "Dusty" Catalyst. Every finals series needs a player who can bend moments to their will. For Richmond, it was Dustin Martin, whose 2017 finals series is the stuff of legend. Identify who can be your game-breaker and build just enough structure to get them the ball in dangerous spots, then get out of their way.
Pro Tip: The "Next Moment" Mentality. Championed by Dimma, this is critical. In a final, a mistake will happen. A goal will be conceded. The Tigers' great strength was their ability to immediately move on to the "next moment." Don't let one error cost you two minutes of focus or, worse, the next contest.
Common Mistake: Overcomplicating Things. Now is not the time for a tactical revolution. Stick to what got you here. Richmond’s power was in doing a few things better than anyone else, not in having the most plays.
Common Mistake: Neglecting Emotional Energy. Finals are an emotional marathon. Managing excitement, anxiety, and fatigue is as important as physical recovery. Build in downtime, encourage honesty about nerves, and keep the mood light when possible.
Common Mistake: Looking Beyond the Week. The "week-by-week" cliché is a cliché for a reason. The three-peat was achieved by never, ever talking about a third flag until the 2020 Grand Final siren blew. Your universe is the next game, the next quarter, the next contest.

Your Finals Preparation Checklist: Summary

Tick these off, and you'll be walking out onto the G with the right foundation.

• Culture Check: Is the "we, not me" mentality non-negotiable for every person involved?


• Connection Active: Have you fostered an environment where pressure is shared through genuine connection (think the Hardwick hug)?


• Game Plan Sharpened: Is your brand of football drilled to instinctual levels, simplified for the big stage?


• Leaders Empowered: Have your on-field leaders been given the ownership to drive standards and set the tone?


• Roles Defined: Have you identified and prepared your finals-specific role players for their season-defining jobs?


• Grind Embraced: Have you visualized tough scenarios and mentally prepared for the unique grind of a finals campaign?


• Sanctuary Secured: Have you protected your preparation space from external noise to foster honest work?


• History Channeled: Are you using your past as fuel for the present, not as a burden on your shoulders?

Preparing the Richmond way is about building something that pressure can’t crack. It’s a blend of ruthless simplicity, profound connection, and an unwavering belief in the person next to you. Now, go get your September.

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Want to dive deeper into the moments that defined this approach? Explore our analysis of key finals moments, examine how a modern defender like Noah Balta handles the transition game in September, or understand the critical impact of ruckwork in the finals cauldron.