Richmond's Angus Graham feels better for throwing his weight around this AFL season, but it hasn't all been one-way.

The Tigers ruckman feels he is starting to have a physical impact in games, but it was three weeks ago against Fremantle when he was the one nursing bruises.

"Adam McPhee got me a beauty in my ribs and Rhys Palmer got me one when I wasn't looking," he said.

"I felt a bit like Justin Koschitzke when he didn't see it coming (the Saint was famously poleaxed by Bulldog Daniel Giansiracusa in 2006).

"I was pretty sore but my body's holding up OK.

"I'm playing with a lot of niggles but the demand is a lot higher and I'm copping a battering.

"But there's only five weeks left.

"That's how it goes being a big bloke. You've got to put your head over the ball.

"You're jumping into people, you cop those knocks and you just get used to it."

Fortunately for Richmond, Graham has been on the receiving end less than he was last year, when he lacked the strength to compete against the league's best big men.

After adding five kilograms to his 201cm frame over the pre-season and maturing physically, the 23-year-old feels he can hold his own in stoppages.

"The fact I can push a few of the bigger ruckmen around has really helped me," said Graham, who has strung together the past 10 games and is now Richmond's No.1 ruck following the retirement of Troy Simmonds.

"I came into the team at a good time, when we'd won a few games, so that always helps," he said.

"When we were winning I got my confidence up and the team's confidence is up.

"I've been taking more marks in contested situations and crashing packs.

"I feel like I'm dominating more and have more of a presence than last year when I was up and down."

Simmonds' departure also meant Graham had to quickly adjust to life with responsibility,. But he said he had thrived under the pressure of performing and was enjoying the chemistry he had formed with his midfielders.

Graham, Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin have had their moments at stoppages this season, although the latter will be missed (suspension) for Sundays game against Adelaide at the MCG.

"We're winning a lot of stoppages, so as a group we're pretty excited that if we stay together for a while hopefully we'll be as good as Geelong," Graham said.

"We've got the confidence that we can be a good midfield team."

This has been a difficult campaign for Richmond, but Graham said Tigers coach Damien Hardwick had stressed the need to finish off the season strongly.

"We want to make the finals next year so it's important for us as a team to finish off the season well and get a few wins under our belts and take some confidence into the off-season," he said.

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