Richmond AFL captain Chris Newman believes both the Tigers and Dustin Martin have learned from their untimely recent sleep-ins.

Richmond are still smarting from what has been labelled “the worst 47 seconds in footy” after falling asleep late to concede two goals and lose by two points to Gold Coast last weekend.

And star midfielder Martin is preparing to return to action with the Tigers against North Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday after his sleeping pill debacle which led to missing training and a two-match club suspension.

Newman says Martin is “fresh and fit” after missing two matches, and importantly believes the 21-year-old has absorbed the lessons he needed to.

“In his own mind, he knows he’s let himself down, and the team comes off the back of that,” Newman said on Thursday.

“He’s done everything right over the last couple of weeks. He has learned from it, I think.

“It’s up to us to get around him, give him a cuddle and get behind him and make sure we play some good footy.”

Newman conceded the Tigers must beat in-form North on Sunday, or their finals hopes were done.

He believed the less than satisfactory performance which handed previously winless Gold Coast victory last weekend in Cairns would spur an improved effort against the Kangaroos.

“It’s very important (to bounce back). We were very disappointed with our efforts on the weekend,” Newman said.

“I was shattered … we had the game in our hands and let it go.

“It’s disappointing to lose at this stage in the season, but it’s not the end of this. We’ve got this week to bounce back.”

Martin and experienced Daniel Jackson, who had been serving a two-match AFL tribunal suspension, are likely to slot straight back into the Tigers side to play North.

The Kangaroos are coming off a 53-point win over Carlton last weekend and have won four of their past five games.