Richmond midfielder Daniel Jackson expects the young Tigers to learn fast from their AFL season-opening thrashing at the hands of Carlton.

Coming off a 56-point hiding from the Blues, they face what looms as an even tougher task against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG on Sunday.

But Jackson said they will benefit from some players having had their first taste of AFL football and the team's new game plan under coach Damien Hardwick having been given its first premiership season test.

"We've been preaching all summer a whole lot of new things that we're going to be sticking to week in, week out and (the Carlton game) was the first chance we were able to go out there and try it on the big stage," Jackson said.

"We started to implement some of those things right and there's a few things that we still need to work on."

The Tigers fielded three AFL debutants in round one - Dustin Martin, Relton Roberts and Ben Nason - and Jackson said coming to terms with life as an AFL footballer could be overwhelming.

"Sometimes as a young bloke you're out there and you're a bit overawed," he said.

"But we just need those young guys to, as quick as they can, learn that it's about the team and feel a bit more comfortable.

"There are certainly a lot of things we need to work on and improve on, but we were in the game for a lot of it and it was probably the small things, not capitalising on chances, fundamental skill errors.

"You're going to get that when you have a young side - Ben Nason missing his first couple of shots on goal, kicking the third - maybe next week he kicks all three."

But Jackson said it was improving defensively that would make the most noticeable early impact.

"For us the defensive aspect is something that we've battled with the last 12 to 24 months and we know if we get that right first, the rest is going to look after itself, that's our starting point," he said.

The Tigers have regained small defender Jake King from suspension and added key position prospect Jayden Post to replace Ben Cousins (knee) and Roberts (club-imposed suspension).

The Bulldogs handed an AFL debut to midfielder Brodie Moles and regained versatile defender Dale Morris from injury, replacing Josh Hill and Dylan Addison.

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