Tiger seeks redemption against veteran Catafl.com.au
6 September 2017It's rare for Alex Rance to lower his colours
ALL AUSTRALIAN captain Alex Rance wants redemption against Geelong on Friday night, admitting his inability to contain Harry Taylor potentially cost Richmond victory last time.
Taylor booted four goals in a best-on-ground display at Rance's expense that day, performing strongly in usual spearhead Tom Hawkins' absence.
The Tigers rallied late, but fell short by 14 points in the round 21 clash at Simonds Stadium – losing to the Cats for the 13th-straight match and 20th time in the past 21.
Rance and Richmond get their shot at redemption in this week's second qualifying final at the MCG in front of an estimated 95,000-strong crowd.
"I'm proud of my own performance and I always want to perform well, and especially in that Geelong game, if I had have won my one-on-ones we probably would have won," Rance said.
"He won the one-on-ones and they won, so it's one of those ones where I did take it quite personally, but you can't really let it drag you down otherwise you don't really improve. It was a good learning experience."
Taylor's effort to lower Rance's colours made headlines, with Tigers coach Damien Hardwick conceding his champion defender "had a disappointing day".
The statistics show Taylor won three one-on-ones to Rance's two – rag-dolling the Richmond vice-captain at times – and the other three marking contests were neutral. But they are generous towards the Tiger, who rarely has a bad game.
Taylor shook Rance for three additional marks on the lead, as well as outpointing his opponent at ground level to deliver 19-year-old teammate Sam Simpson a simple second-quarter goal.
Rance also fumbled deep in defence in the same term – a bad bounce didn't help his cause – and was left watching as Jake Kolodjashnij fed Taylor for maximum points from the goalsquare.
Port Adelaide sent Jackson Trengove to Rance in round 15 and he successfully subdued him for a half, while tireless St Kilda forward Nick Riewoldt got the better of Rance in a landslide Richmond loss in round 16.
"I think the way AFL's going, and the astute minds that watch the game will see, it's not so much a one-on-one battle anymore – it's very much a team systematic play," Rance said.
"Midfielders are too good now. If you've got half a centimetre break on your player, they'll hit them on the chest, so you need to play as a unit rather than a one-on-one."
The Tigers' sole defeat in seven games since that Saints shellacking was the Cats result, a formline that gives Rance confidence of a strong finals run.
"The adaptation of our side this year has been super; just to be able to be that really flexible side," he said.
"We got pretty soundly beaten by Adelaide (in round six) and then St Kilda and then we had a little hiccup against Geelong, so we've had some good learning moments along the way."
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-09-05/tiger-seeks-redemption-against-veteran-cat
