Richmond have the defence to bring down Adelaide in AFL grand finalWayne Carey
The Age
September 28 2017 - 6:10PMWhen Adelaide players stand for the national anthem, staring down their Richmond opponents, if they underestimate them, they'll do so at their peril.
While the Tigers' forward pressure has rightly received many of the plaudits for the club's September charge, their defence has almost gone unnoticed. But right now, Damien Hardwick has the perfect unit to bring down Adelaide's star-studded forward-line, with a group who've had their share of critics over the years.
Before 2017, some had been whipping boys. But not any more. Individually, Alex Rance has been recognised with All-Australian selection and has clearly been the best full-back in our game for some time. But it's those around him who've risen to the occasion this season.
Both David Astbury and Dylan Grimes have become important allies for Rance, and will again be pivotal in allowing him to float across as the third man up. Bachar Houli provides precise ball-use and real drive from half-back, while Brandon Ellis has recaptured the form we saw from him a few years ago.
Nick Vlastuin is another guy who's finally reaching his potential now he's getting a decent run at it with injury. He's as brave as they come, and knows when to fly for his marks while also providing a cool head when the going gets tough.
As a group they've realised they belong at AFL level, which can be half the battle. Of course, the pressure up the ground is still crucial in stopping Adelaide from marching forward at will. But as we saw against GWS last week, the Tigers defence stood strong in the first half, when that intense pressure wasn't always there.
The Giants often found space heading inside 50, but the likes of Rance, Astbury and Grimes managed to turn many 30-70 contests into personal wins. Those wins ensured the Tigers didn't head into half-time with a deficit. Only once that forward pressure returned in the second half did Hardwick's men really put the foot down.
It's often said defence starts in attack, but the opposite can also be true and winning crucial, line-ball moments can feed the confidence of the entire team. As a forward, it affects when you lead and how much petrol you burn. For midfielders like Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin, confidence in your team-mate allows you to make position much earlier than you otherwise could. When you talk about transition, that's how it starts.
If you see Rance on the right side of a tussle with Taylor Walker, you can set off and get those extra few metres that allow you to win the football up the line.
I've said before that Rance is a modern version Glenn Archer. He's desperate and relentless in throwing himself at the footy.
On Saturday he has the chance to match one of Glenn's great feats by winning the North Smith Medal. Arch took home the medal when we won the premiership in 1996, fearlessly standing in front of Tony Lockett. Walker and Josh Jenkins mightn't be quite as scary as 'Plugger' in a physical sense, but the Crows have proven they can be just as damaging on the scoreboard.
While I don't think the round six clash – which the Crows won by 76 points – holds much weight, the key for those Tiger defenders will be to ensure they don't get spooked if Adelaide starts strongly.
Before 2017, some were whipping boys. But not anymore.
It's interesting that neither side has a player with any grand final experience, but in reality that means very little. No matter how many grand finals you've played, there will always be pre-game nerves. Again, it's often in defence that those nerves can be settled.
If you get an early touch it can make a big difference to your entire afternoon. Yes, the Tigers will still need to win their share of clearances, and yes, they'll still need to apply the tackling pressure we know they're capable of. But even if that's not the case, I think they've got the defensive personnel to hold firm under fire. So, it should come as no surprise if the Tigers break that 37-year premiership drought.
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