Richmond to share the load

AFL: Richmond defender Alex Rance has devised a plan he hopes will quell Adelaide captain Taylor Walker, but was reluctant to share any details five days out from Saturday’s grand final.

But part of it will include a revolving match-up that will see him and teammate David Astbury alternate at times between Walker and Crows key forward Josh Jenkins.

When asked about a likely match-up with Walker, Rance smiled and said: “Do you want me to give him a call and tell him how I will play him?

“I know how I am going to play him, but I am not going to tell him.”

The All-Australian captain said Walker was a difficult match-up at the best of times, saying he was a very similar mould to former Fremantle star Matthew Pavlich.

“He is that true centre half-forward, the double threat where he can go forward or back and take a strong mark,” Rance said.

“He doesn’t have too many weaknesses, it is just about (getting) a little bit of help up the field, a little bit of pressure, some dirty balls and me trying to limit his effectiveness.”

The last time these two teams met, in Round 6, Rance spent almost two thirds of the game on Jenkins, while also having a solid stint on Walker, with Astbury assisting as well.

“The good minds will see that systems are prevailing more than match-ups,” he said. “Grimesy’ (Dylan Grimes) might play on (Eddie) Betts, or Dave (Astbury) might play on ‘Tex’ (Walker), (but) the way we work as a team is we will be supporting each other. I won’t be on Tex (for) the whole game, and Dave won’t be on Tex the whole game.”