Richmond star on dealing with a forward tagBy SEN
21 July 2017Richmond star Alex Rance says learning to cope with opposition teams trying to negate his influence in the back half has been challenging.
Port Adelaide were the first to play a defensive forward on the Tiger gun when Jackson Trengove made him accountable in their Round 15 clash, and it was followed the next week ago when St Kilda did likewise with Nick Riewoldt.
Rance told SEN Breakfast that it took him by surprise, but it can also play into Richmond’s hands also.
“At the end of the day I’ve got to be a defender, so if that means they’re taking me out of the play then they’re a forward down too, it’s something new I’ve got to deal with," he said.
“It was difficult early because it’s something I’ve never had to deal with before and something I didn’t think I’d have to deal with in my footy career.
“It’s probably been only two games that it’s happened. Port Adelaide was a really serious one, that was really disrupting.
"Nick Riewoldt played it a bit smarter, he knows when to peel off and go for his marks.
“It’s a really hard one as a key defender, especially because you feel like all your rights are really taken from you because you can’t get the ball on offence and you can’t get the ball on defence. You’re standing there being a bit of a landmark.”
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2017/07/21/richmond-star-on-dealing-with-a-forward-tag/
