Richmond defender Troy Chaplin says the Tigers can take the next step up and it’s up to core players in the AFL club to make it happen.

Richmond are preparing for another big test, facing West Coast in Perth next Monday night.

They go into the match after a disappointing showing against Essendon which prompted criticism of their inability to beat any of the leading teams.

Sitting 10th on the AFL ladder with a 5-4 win loss record, Chaplin felt they were on the right track.

“It’s disappointing, it would be nice to get one of these big scalps,” the former Port backman said.

“Probably the most disappointing thing is that we’ve been in the games for periods of time, there’s probably been a lapse of 15-20 minutes that has cost us.

“We feel we’re around the mark, it would be fantastic for this group if we could beat one of the bigger teams on a bigger stage.”

He said improvement had to come from the “middle tier” of players.

“We know what we’re going to get out of our leaders week in, week out, but it’s probably the 12 or 13 other guys,” he said.

“You can probably give exception to the younger guys, the Nick Vlastuins and Brandon Ellises, who are in the second and first year.

“Probably the core group have got to play consistent footy week in, week out.”

Dyer pointed to the Geelong match, when the Tigers led by 19 points midway through the second quarter before allowing the Cats to run away with the game in the third term for a 44-point win.

He said the Tigers needed to quickly learn to “stand up and stem the flow”.

“We need to take the game on, don’t go into our shell, and we’ve got to be confident in our game-plan.

“There’s probably six or seven teams that are going to be fighting to get into the eight, so we’ve got make the most of our opportunities and take them when they come.”

Chaplin said Brett Deledio, who hurt his knee in the second quarter against the Bombers, was expected to be available to face the sixth-placed Eagles at Patersons Stadium.