As reality dawned on Sunday that the Tigers were the reigning premiers, the Richmond captain said he had initially felt "empty" following the final siren in Saturday's crushing grand final victory over Adelaide.

But as he enjoyed the festivities at Punt Road on Sunday, Cotchin already had half an eye to next year, with the Tigers keen to ensure they don't have to wait anywhere close to the 37 years between the club's 10th and 11th flags for a 12th.

"The conversation we've had all year is that our best footy is ahead of us," Cotchin said.

"Yesterday (Saturday) was an outstanding performance from each and every player, but there's so much more improvement in us.

"If you spoke to the majority of our group, it's a greed, but it's not an arrogant greed. It's just a willingness to get better. That's a big part of our culture."

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said it was too early to start contemplating how the Tigers would cope with a target on their back.

"We'll worry about that in due course. We haven't really had time to think about that," Hardwick said.

"These things don't come along very often.

"We're just going to enjoy it for what it is. We've embraced the whole finals series this year. We'll embrace it for what it is now, and when it's time to get back to work, we'll get back to work. But we'll be like the supporters - we'll enjoy this one."

Richmond's premiership defence appears to already have a casualty, with young forward Daniel Rioli likely to face surgery on a leg injury which left him on crutches at Sunday's celebrations.

Cotchin said the club's enormous supporter base deserved their long-awaited moment of triumph. "I can't imagine the pain they've been through, but now the excitement, the enjoyment that they get ...," he said.

"They've been there through thick and thin, and they're thoroughly deserving of these moments."

Expanding about the hours that had followed the win, Cotchin said he had experienced a range of emotions. "So much pride in our football club. Our boys. Happiness. There's been some tears. There's been moments of joy. Lots of moments of joy. The celebration for me has been in soaking it all up," he said.

"I was on the bench with 10 minutes to go, got back on the ground with about seven to go. I still didn't think we'd won it.

"When that final siren goes, there's almost that sense of emptiness at the start of it. You see the Adelaide boys, you can't imagine the feelings they're going through. You feel sorry for them."

In particular, the 2012 Brownlow medallist took satisfaction from the Tigers' rise from 13th last year, with their 2017 feat breaking the record for the biggest ladder jump from one year to claim the premiership the next. "I think that's where a lot of my pride comes from. Just the growth in our whole group, our whole football club," he said.

"Last year was a disappointing year. We knew that wasn't us and where we were at as a group.

"The journey we've been on, for longer than 12 months, has been a special one and it's been great being a part of it."

Cotchin also paid tribute to his "ecstatic" wife Brooke and lauded the supportive role played by all the Tigers' partners.