The coach said he was pleased with how Richmond toughed it out to win by 15 points at the MCG, but denied the night had increased emotional intensity about it despite their thrashing by GWS the previous round and a week of off-field dramas.

Richmond endured a horror start against the 'Pies, with Mason Cox scoring two goals and James Aish and Taylor Adams one each before Ty Vickery booted the Tigers' first.

Hardwick suggested all four of Collingwoods' first goals were the result of free kicks.

"I think if you were American you got a free kick there for a while," he said.  Cox is from the US.

The Giants beat the Tigers by 88 points at Manuka Oval in round 19, a loss that kicked off a difficult week at Punt Road.

Hardwick's role was again under scrutiny and a group of disgruntled fans were plotting a board spill.

The coach said he was untroubled by the drama, saying president Peggy O'Neal and CEO Brendon Gale had given him great support.

"Where this club is placed at the moment, zero debt, 70-odd thousand members, I wouldn't be questioning the board in any way.," he said.

It did not have much of an impact on the players either, Hardwick said

"Within clubland we don't ride the emotional rollercoasters the external people do," he said.

"We realise we've been underperforming this year, absolutely, but our process doesn't change, we prepare the same way. This week no different to last week. It'll be no different than next week."

"We just worry about what we can control and that's trying to win as many football games as we can."

But his players looked jubilant as they hugged and cheered and celebrated after the match.

Even during Hardwick's press conference a loud chant could be heard from the Tigers' rooms, believed to be a New Zealand-styled "haka."

Hardwick said both experienced and young players performed well, but he praised in particular Alex Rance, who dominated in Richmond's backline.

He said he would like to see the 26-year-old play on.

"He's an incredible player. One-on-one there's not many better players than him," Hardwick said.

"The ball gets kicked to him in a one-on-one contest and I actually breathe easy, thinking he's going to win it."