Tigers lacking killer instinct

Brett Deledio reckons Richmond have improved in key areas this year, but will need to show more ruthlessness in their next two games.

The Tigers are fifth on the ladder with 10 victories from 15 games, sitting two wins inside the top eight.

They face a tough challenge in trying to protect their record of eight wins in nine games as they play ladder leaders Fremantle this weekend and come up against reigning premiers Hawthorn next week.

Richmond are 16/1 to win the Grand Final.

Deledio, who kicked an equal game-high three goals in the 16-point win over St Kilda at Etihad Stadium last Sunday, says the Tigers are encouraged by the results they've had this year.

"We've shown that we can beat Sydney in Sydney and 'Freo' over there, so the challenge is to do it at home here in Melbourne against two of the better teams in the competition," he added.

The 225-game veteran feels the club are defending better this year, and are controlling the football better.

He concedes, though, that they are behind the top teams in the competition in terms of their ability to finish the opposition off.

"We've just got to keep learning and keep developing as a good side," he added. "We showed on the weekend that we can play good footy, but we didn't finish off.  That's what you see Hawthorn and Sydney do - they're ruthless right from go to whoa."

The Tigers will need a better performance than they produced against St Kilda, where they had the game won at three-quarter time but then conceded six unanswered goals in the final quarter.

They beat Fremantle earlier in the season at Domain Stadium thanks to an eight-goal first quarter.

Richmond are 7/10 to beat the Dockers, who are 59/50.