Richmond coach Damien Hardwick and his players eyeballed each other with so much in the balance.

After 16 years without an AFL finals win, the Tigers led Geelong by 13 points at three-quarter time in a grinding qualifying final.

So what was Hardwick’s inspirational message in their huddle? What coaching genius sparked Richmond’s seven goals to one rampage in the last quarter on Friday night at the MCG?

“Dimma just said to us to ‘Go out there and enjoy – just enjoy what you do’. And that’s what football is all about,” Bachar Houli said.

The Richmond defender agreed it was an interesting thing to say at not just a critical point in the match but with their whole season in the balance.

It worked. The Tigers won by 51 points.

“He knows how relaxed we are as a team – we’re a young group. He went back to simple messages,” Houli said.

“That’s what the messages have been since day one. Clear. Play to your strengths. Enjoy the game.”

It is a far cry from last year, when three-straight elimination final losses cracked the Tigers and they plummeted out of the top eight.

Houli said from the moment they returned to training late last year, they could sense this season would be different.

“It’s been a long journey, back from November when we felt like there was something special then,” he said.

“Throughout the pre-season, early on in the season, the connections started to build.

“It showed today. The connection was there for four quarters and most importantly in the fourth quarter.”

Houli said this was the best moment in his career and he is particularly pleased for Hardwick.

“We all love Dimma. He’s the best coach I’ve ever had,” Houli said.

“He coaches with pure passion and love and he has so much care for all us players.”