'Overthinking' costing Tigers, says suspended defender AFL.com.au
May 3, 2016RICHMOND needs to rediscover its offensive flair to return to form, says defender Alex Rance.
The Tigers are 1-5 and willface reigning premiers Hawthorn and the Sydney Swans in successive weeks.
Skipper Trent Cotchin (fractured cheekbone) and Kane Lambert (punctured lung) are both likely to miss the next two rounds.
Rance was banned after a forearm strike to the head on Melbourne's Jack Watts, and will serve the final game of his suspension against the Hawks.
Speaking on AFL Exchange, Rance said his view from the stands shed light on some of Richmond's flaws.
"I did see a few things that we can work on, mainly around our offence. We're overthinking it a little bit and probably forcing things that aren't there," Rance said.
"We've just got to relax a little bit and let things unfold."
Richmond is the fourth-lowest scoring team in the competition this season, after finishing ninth in that category in 2015.
Despite the Tigers' poor record, Rance said there is enough time for his team to recover.
"It's not battle stations just yet. There's still 16 games left in the season," he said.
"We've shown that we're a talented side. We've played in three consecutive finals series. We've definitely got the stock and the capacity to play that style of football again, so it's just about keeping the faith."
Rance, 26, has made the All Australian team for the past two seasons. His absence was telling in Richmond's 35-point loss to Port Adelaide on Saturday night.
"I know I'm a vital piece to the Richmond puzzle. My leadership out there would have been missed," he said.
"I was extremely disappointed that I couldn't be out there helping my mates. There's no point beating myself up about it now."
Richmond face the Hawks on Friday night at the MCG.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-05-02/overthinking-costing-tigers
