Rance's Buddy big one-on-one challengeNathan Schmook June 19, 2014 11:57 AM
RICHMOND will back key defender Alex Rance to tackle Lance Franklin one-on-one and with minimum help in Friday night's clash at the MCG, despite the brilliant form of the Sydney Swans superstar.
Franklin has kicked 17 goals in his past four games and he was close to unstoppable in the final quarter against Port Adelaide last Saturday, kicking two long-range goals to turn the match in the Swans' favour.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said he was prepared to back Rance one-on-one in Friday night's clash, with his prime key defender keeping Franklin to just 2.5 in his last two match-ups on the former Hawk.
"Alex has got an impressive record on Buddy the last couples of times he's played, but that by no means guarantees that Buddy is going to have a quiet game," Hardwick said on Thursday.
"Alex is probably at his best when he's one-on-one, so we're prepared to back him in.
"You've got to back your players in one-on-one, otherwise Adam Goodes will get off the leash, and theses types.
"We've just got to make sure there's pressure on the ball like every week, and that way it helps Alex out."
Hardwick, who worked with Franklin when he was an assistant coach at Hawthorn between 2005 and 2009, said he believed the star goalkicker had improved since moving to Sydney and it was the first time he had been "a real dominant force in contested marking".
"He's dominated games and won games off his own boot, which we know he's capable of doing," Hardwick said.
"We're going to have our work cut out. You've got to make sure you monitor Buddy, but then there's a very good player down there by the name of Adam Goodes ... (Sam) Reid and all these other types also.
"We've got some good match ups that we think will be able to counter those, but it's going to be a really good game."
Hardwick said his players, who went through their final training run on Thursday morning at Punt Road Oval, were primed for their second Friday night clash this season.
He said the Tigers had simplified aspects of their game and were now "nailing the things we're good at".
"The thing we found was we were working on some deficiencies from the year previous," he said.
"Unfortunately if you work on some things and you don't tick off on a couple of others, those things fall away.
"Our numbers have improved, we've just got to make sure we get the wins on the board ... we've got to gain our respectability back."
The Tigers are unlikely to recall midfielder Reece Conca, who didn't take part in Thursday's final session as he recovers from a groin injury.
Hard-nosed on-baller Matt Thomas is available after serving a one-match suspension and appears likely to come straight back into the team.
"He's served his penance for his suspension last week in the chook lotto raffle it was ... we move on this week," Hardwick said.
"I like what Matty brings to the side. He's hard, he's physical and I like the way he plays."
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-06-19/rances-buddy-big-task
