Richmond star Jack Riewoldt insists the players remain united behind Damien Hardwick and doesn't believe the coach will be under greater pressure next season.

The Tigers were still coming to terms on Monday with their elimination-final loss to North Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday. The Tigers led by 21 points at one stage but eventually lost by 17 points.

It was their third straight elimination-final defeat, heaping more pressure on the club and prompting calls from the likes of club great Kevin Bartlett to orchestrate an "ambitious" post-season recruiting plan.

Hardwick has a year to run on his contract and the Tigers' board must now determine how to handle 2016 when the focus on the coach will be immense.

However, Riewoldt, who booted four goals in Sunday's stinging loss, denied Hardwick would be under severe pressure.

"Not at all. It's one thing that this group is strong at doing, we really stick together when times are tough," Riewoldt said on Monday. "This will really hurt the blokes going forward."

Hardwick is understood to have clearly expressed his anger towards his players in the closed dressingroom after the stinging defeat.

"The coach I want to play for is the guy that cares deep down about this group, the football club, its fans, its supporters, its members and everyone that's involved in the Richmond Football Club," Riewoldt said.

"So, I would have been disappointed if he wasn't angry because I was. I was frustrated, I was disappointed – I was angry after the game. I couldn't think [of] a better bloke to be playing footy for at the moment."

Hardwick's frustration appeared to bubble over briefly in his past-match press conference on Sunday.

While he answered all questions in a composed manner, his patience was tested when a mobile phone rang as he was asked a question about the umpires' controversial non-call on Shane Edwards after he had tackled Ben Cunnington late in the final term.

Hardwick glared at the owner of the phone said: "Seriously?" Under his breath, he then called him a "f---ing moron" but the comment was picked up by microphones.

The Tigers were due to have a low-key "Mad Monday" celebration in Richmond.