Richmond's "eat 'em alive" ferocity took care of GWS and that's exactly where Tigers president Peggy O'Neal says it should be directed - at AFL opponents.
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O'Neal hopes the persistent internal strife that marked Richmond's 37 years in the premiership wilderness is consigned to history.
Saturday's 89-point grand final walloping of the Giants was their second flag in three years and confirms Richmond as the new powerhouse of the AFL.
But only three years ago, O'Neal and the club board had to hold their nerve as the Tigers dropped out of the top eight and there were calls for coach Damien Hardwick to go.
Changes were made, lessons were learned and within 12 months their time in the premiership wilderness was over.
"That's part of patience and I hope 'eat 'em alive' is just about the opposition now," O'Neal said.
"We need everybody against the opposition, not against each other.
"I think we have turned the corner and I think our supporters know that you stick with the plan if you think it's the right plan.
"Patience is sometimes in short supply, because we all like to win, but maybe this has gone a little ways in making up the deficit for Richmond fans."
O'Neal and about 15,000 of her best friends were at Punt Rd on Sunday to continue the celebrations around the club's 12th premiership.
The future is bright at Richmond, with a redevelopment of their Punt Road headquarters in the planning stages and their AFLW team about to debut.
O'Neal said the key for their AFL fortunes is to keep improving and not stand still.
"This isn't the way we played in 2017 and it isn't the same people from 2017," she said.
"No doubt 2020 will be different again.
"Everyone looks at who won last and tries to emulate that, so if you're doing the same thing you're going to be caught."
Australian Associated Press
