NO GAZ ULTIMATUM:
GOLD COAST AFL BOSS DENIES ABLETT RETIREMENT THREAT
SOMETIMES less is more and that’s certainly proved to be the case for Richmond’s defensive unit this season. Less Alex Rance that is. The superstar defender’s decision to take a small step back and let other members of the Tigers’ back line take the lead more often in pre-season has paid huge dividends. The league’s third-best defence conceded 1684 points this season – a whopping 471 fewer than last year.
And Richmond had scores of more than 100 points kicked against them just twice – by Adelaide in Round 6 and St Kilda in Round 16.
“Alex is just an extraordinary player, an absolute warrior, but underneath him, in the past, we’ve probably been a little bit skinny,” Tigers fullback David Astbury said.
“So he made it his mission in the pre-season to try to put more responsibility on me and Dylan Grimes and others to allow us to really grow and develop.
“In the past he’s probably just wanted to fix everything but it’s too hard to do for any one person.
“It’s a credit to him. He probably had to take a back seat and allow me or someone else to take over (in meetings or training) and that’s allowed us to get up to speed.
“I think as a group we’re really connected and bonded together as a result.”
Astbury has thrived with the extra responsibility, along with the growing belief he’s well and truly over the injuries that threatened his career.
The 26-year-old played every game this season – the first time he’s managed that feat since he debuted in 2010.
From the 2011 season through to 2015, he made just 24 senior appearances due to a horror run with injuries.