Alex Rance and Dylan Grimes vie for task of curbing Melbourne's Mitch Clark Matt Windley
From: Herald Sun
April 13, 2012 ALEX Rance or Dylan Grimes will be charged with stopping Melbourne's Mitch Clark at the MCG tomorrow after the pair won high praise from Richmond coach Damien Hardwick yesterday.
With Kelvin Moore (hip) and David Astbury (knee) long-term injury omissions, Rance and Grimes have been key figures in the Tiger backline this season.
Richmond has lost its opening two games, but Carlton and Collingwood's key forwards were kept largely under wraps - a fact not lost on Hardwick.
"It's probably the one area we've been reasonably happy with," Hardwick said.
"Our contested ball at that end of the ground was relatively poor last year. This year I think we're in the top three or four.
"Our back six, our key-position guys, Rance (is) 22, Grimes 20 and (Jake) Batchelor 19. There wouldn't be many sides who have that many inexperienced key-position players.
"We've just got to keep persevering with those guys. We think they're going to be good players.
"It's a positive sign, but we've just got to keep getting games in to them and, when they become 24, 25, 26, that's when they really start to play their best football."
Hardwick said stopping 200cm Clark, who has crossed to the Demons after 82 games with Brisbane Lions, would be vital.
"He was really impressive last week," he said.
"His ability to hunt the ball at ground level is a thing we know about. I think he kicked his five goals all from snap shots.
"He's a guy who battled really hard. Even in the (Round 1) game against Brisbane, he was probably a little unlucky not to take some high marks. He's a quality player and one we'll be looking to stem the flow to."
Hardwick would not buy into talk that Melbourne is an easybeat.
The Dees' losses have led some to group Mark Neeld's men with expansion sides Greater Western Sydney and Gold Coast as "gimmee games" for opponents.
But Richmond has beaten Melbourne only once in its past four attempts.
"It's a big game for us," Hardwick said.
"They've got some areas they need to improve, as we have, but we understand it's going to be a tough game."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/alex-rance-and-dylan-grimes-vie-for-task-of-curbing-melbourne-mitch-clark/story-e6frf9jf-1226325247769
