MATCH REPORT: Tigers misfire as Magpies square ledger
Over the past five years, only two sides have recovered from a 1-3 start to the season.
"Yeah, I think it's the biggest hole we've been in. But that finds out a little bit about yourself. I think our character as a football side will be on show for the next month," Hardwick said after Friday night's 38-point loss to Collingwood.
"The season is still alive. It's going to be a very close competition this year. Our guys can play, make no mistake, we've just got to find our mojo and get our boys back up and going."
The Tigers have a six-day turnaround before meeting Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Thursday night.
That's a very winnable match, but Richmond would plunge into crisis should they lose it.
After that, the Tigers must play powerhouses Hawthorn and Geelong and Hardwick is bracing for questions about his tenure.
"That's the harsh reality of our world, it's all part and parcel of it. The blowtorch will come, good luck," he said.
"I don't worry about it, it is what it is. We know where we're at and that we've got to get better.
"We've got to get better. That's what is going to drive this club forward. We've got to keep persevering, keep demanding more of each other and keep putting more on the line to get where we want to go.
"We are well short of what we're capable of."
Meanwhile Hardwick has bemoaned a lack of protection for playmaking captain Trent Cotchin - from both the umpires and his Tigers team-mates.
Cotchin was ruthlessly tagged by Collingwood's Brent Macaffer and kept to just 13 disposals — his lowest return since Round 6 2010.
Trent Cotchin had Brent Macaffer for close company all match. Photo: Quinn Rooney (Getty)
"He (Cotchin) is a better man than I am, put it that way," Hardwick said.
"There are some people (umpires) out there that give the protection. I'll be showing my players that's how you tag — he (Macaffer) did an outstanding job."
So should the umpires have done more to protect Cotchin?
"You're asking the wrong bloke," Hardwick said.
"Take nothing away from Collingwood; they were outstanding, their pressure around the ball, their ability to win the scrimmages, they looked cleaner than us.
"I thought he tried his backside off, Trent ... but Macaffer did a very good job to keep him to 13 touches — that doesn't happen very often."