Richmond have delivered Damien Hardwick his first victory as head coach, with a 15.12 (102) to 7.9 (51) thumping of Geelong in an AFL practice match in Yea in country Victoria.

The Tigers were keen to improve after being thrashed by Hawthorn in the opening round of the NAB Cup in Hardwick's first game in charge.

They showed much greater defensive pressure, keeping the Cats to two goals until the final quarter, when they piled on five in an eight-minute burst to cut the margin.

Geelong would not have been too concerned, though, given they were missing about 11 first-choice players, including captain Cameron Ling, and midfield stars Gary Ablett and Joel Selwood.

Young key forward Jack Riewoldt impressed with four goals for the Tigers, while Mitch Morton chimed in with three.

Midfielders Brett Deledio and Richard Tambling both won plenty of the ball, while Shane Edwards and Daniel Connors provided run from halfback.

Indigenous half-forwards Troy Taylor and Relton Roberts, both playing their first game for the club, showed some exciting glimpses, including some good chasing and tackling from the pacy Roberts.

For the Cats, their senior players stood out among a large group of inexperienced teammates, with Paul Chapman and Corey Enright two of their best.

The country venue teemed with about 6,000 spectators, with the game doubling as a community fundraiser and attended by AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick, chief executive Andrew Demetriou and football operations manager Adrian Anderson.

The football ground last year served as a meeting point for the surrounding areas, which were affected by Victoria's bushfire tragedy.

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