Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams has given up hope of making the finals and will use the rest of the season to plan for the future.
Williams said the Power would change its focus after being 'shattered' by their four-point loss to the Tigers at AAMI Stadium on Saturday. It's the team's seventh loss by 17 points or less.
"It (the Richmond game) has destroyed any chance of making the finals, I officially call that off, no chance," he said.
"It was nice to think we could fight the game out in the end, and gave ourselves a chance to win, but didn't take it.
"I know our supporters would be devastated by that view and certainly we are … it's a very empty feeling."
Mirroring their poor 2006 season, the Power will use the remaining rounds to experiment and groom its emerging players. This will involve promoting younger squad members and dropping experienced but underperforming players back to the SANFL.
And players requiring clean outs or minor operations will have their time in the medical rooms fast-tracked.
Williams was optimistic the change in direction would help Port rebound in the coming years.
"We are pretty firm and pretty focussed on the fact that we are going to give people opportunities to develop," he said.
"We must make sure we know exactly our list at the end of the year and exactly who we are keeping and who we are not."
"What you do is continually look at picking the absolute best side to make the finals. Now we are picking the absolute best side for us in two or three years time."
Williams said Power supporters should take a positive view through the remaining weeks of the season.
"When you get over the hurdle of not making the finals you actually look forward to coming (to games)," he said.
"I know a couple of years ago it was such a big thing to come and see our young players play and see what they can do and what they might be able to produce week in week out long term."
Port Adelaide will hold its annual review during the second week of the split round.
Williams admitted the coaching staff would also have to assess their input into the team.
"We will look and we will be open to changing things. Week to week we actually do that but it's much more significant when you've got some time to step away from the week to week results and consider what's going on globally I suppose," he said.