RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick has declared he "couldn't care less what people outside our club think" and he won't be driven by proving outsiders wrong in 2016. 

Following the Tigers' third straight elimination final defeat, Hardwick conceded the club would come under pressure to notch a breakthrough finals win next season.

In a passionate best and fairest speech on Tuesday night, he said the Tigers should be inspired by retiring former captain Chris Newman in their pursuit of success, telling his players they must grab their opportunity, because "one day it won’t be there". 

"We won’t be driven by proving outsiders wrong … to be totally honest I couldn’t care less what people outside our club think," Hardwick said at the Jack Dyer Medal count.

"The rest of the football world wants to point the finger at us and tell us we aren’t up to it.

"I ask you, would Chris Newman curl up in a corner and feel sorry for himself and say it’s all too hard? Not on your life. And there is no way this club will.

"As our song says, we will fight and fight and win. I’m up for the fight, the players are up for the fight … as is the whole club."

Hardwick said he drew inspiration from Australian golfer Jason Day, who "finished top 10 in a major championship nine times before he won a major".

"These are lessons in persistence and putting yourself in a position to contend," he said.

"We must continue to do exactly that as a club. That in itself takes an enormous amount of work."

"Hard work and commitment are the only answers."

Hardwick, who came under pressure following the Tigers' 2-4 start to the season, thanked president Peggy O’Neal, the club's board and CEO Brendon Gale for their support in 2015.

Out of contract at the end of next season, he told the players "the past matters zero" and they needed to take every opportunity to make themselves better players.

"You must grab the opportunity because as Chris Newman will tell you, one day it won’t be there," he said.