While a 16th vs 17th clash will be far from the headlines in Round 23, there's plenty at stake for the Tigers and Kangaroos.
The Tigers especially aren't focusing on post-season holidays just yet, with senior coach Adem Yze claiming there's a fire lit within the group to make up for last week's heartbreaking loss to St Kilda.
Richmond have exceeded most expectations this season, going from a team seemingly destined to go winless in 2025 to a side striding for its sixth win of the season, and third in six matches.
North Melbourne looms as not just another side to develop their system against, but as a prime opportunity for Richmond to claim another scalp in 2025 - and get redemption for their dramatic nail-biting loss to the Kangaroos in Round 10.
"It's a chance to redeem ourselves from last weekend. We obviously gave ourselves an opportunity to win the game and we fell short," Yze told media on Thursday.
"Our boys were really disappointed. We've reviewed it and trained really hard today. We'll go over there [to Ninja Stadium] knowing they play well at the ground and hopefully redeem ourselves from last time we played them."
Yze spoke of the key lessons his group of players learned from last time out against North Melbourne and highlighted the stakes of the clash for both sides, considering the impact it will have on the National Draft as well as their confidence going into 2026.
In 2024, North Melbourne traded Richmond their first-round draft pick for the 2025 National Draft, making their finish on the ladder pivotal for Richmond, who may look to trade down in order to select father-son prospect Louis Kellaway.
If North Melbourne wins this weekend, they'll jump Richmond on the ladder and have the chance to finish as high as 15th, but a loss will officially condemn them to a bottom-two finish for the sixth straight season.
"We fought our way back [last time against North Melbourne]. They started really well and then in the middle part of the game we didn't maximise our opportunities," Yze said.
"There was a quarter where we had 18 inside 50s to four. From half-time, it was an arm wrestle, and I think this week will be really similar.
"It's two teams who haven't won a lot of games, and they'll be itching to taste that success. The result gives you some comfort of what you're training."
Yze specifically emphasised the need for Richmond to start strongly and avoid being "jumped" by their opposition, having won just six first quarters this season.
"Our start hasn't been good enough. Last week, there's been a couple weeks, even in the West Coast game, we've been jumped early," Yze said.
"There's elements of our game where we haven't been consistent enough, in all three phases.
"Our defence allowed way too many marks on the weekend. Stoppages have been pretty solid, but at the same time, we're not maximising when we do win and get that ascendancy.
"There's the finer details around all three phases that we need to get better at and do it for longer. For a young group, that's what we're striving to do."
The first bounce between Richmond and North Melbourne will hit the turf at Ninja Stadium at 1:10pm on Sunday (AEST).
