"Let's make Richmond great again," Damien Hardwick joked as he stepped up to the club's rather presidential new lectern for his first press conference of 2017.
It was only a tongue-in-cheek lift of US president Donald Trump's campaign slogan but the Tigers are intent on taking steps toward greatness this season, with a return to the finals firmly on the agenda.
"Our expectation is to make finals but 17 other clubs are saying the same thing," Hardwick told reporters on Thursday.
"I don't apologise for putting the expectation bar up high - that's the sort of club (we are) and the sort of person I am.
"But we're confident with the playing group that we've got that we're capable of playing (finals) when we play our best."
Questions abound at Punt Road after three successive elimination final defeats were followed by last year's disappointing 13th-placed finish with just eight wins.
Star midfielder Dustin Martin's future will be near the top of that list of queries, with the 25-year-old out of contract at the end of the season.
"Neil (Balme) and Dan (Richardson) are doing a truckload of work to try and get it done and that's all I can stay at this stage," Hardwick said.
"It's the modern age of football but what I can say is that he's had a wonderful pre-season and we're looking forward to him continuing that good form into the season.
"Whatever happens in the modern era that we're in happens but Dustin's been a great player for the Richmond footy club and the Richmond footy club's been great for Dustin."
Star forward Jack Riewoldt's position on the ground and in the leadership group has also been a key talking point.
Hardwick wouldn't be drawn on the ongoing leadership selection process other than to express confidence Trent Cotchin would retain the captaincy.
As for repeated calls for Riewoldt, the club's seven-time leading goal kicker, to play closer to goal?
"The fact of the matter is I could put Jack at full-forward but he's probably not going to get the ball if we're struggling to get the ball out of the back half," Hardwick said.
"He's an elite one-on-one player so we needed him to be a link in the chain to get it inside 50.
"But if we're moving the ball well I guarantee he's kicking more goals and he's closer to goal."
Richmond kick off their pre-season competition campaign against Adelaide at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
Star defender Alex Rance will miss with a hamstring strain but is expected to be available for the club's next match.
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