Rance an issue for Richmond
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick concedes the uncertainty surrounding the future of Alex Rance could drag on throughout the 2015 season, but is confident of retaining the star defender's services.
The Tigers, who open their NAB Challenge campaign against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday, secured a key piece of their push for a drought-breaking premiership this month when they locked away Dustin Martin until the end of 2017.
But All-Australian backman Rance, who qualifies for free agency at the end of the season, is yet to commit to a new deal.
The Swan Districts product has attracted plenty of interest from rival clubs, including Fremantle.
"Free agency's one of those things that we're well and truly into and it's just something we have to live with at this stage, so that will work itself out at some stage," Hardwick said.
"Alex is obviously a very important player to us, an All-Australian last year, so we'll work our way through that."
Martin's new deal increased pressure on Richmond's salary cap and opposition clubs are sure to throw big money at Rance in bids to lure him away from Punt Road.
Contract negotiations with Rance will be left to Tigers football manager Dan Richardson.
"I'm not really privy to the salary cap and where we're at, all I know is (Rance) is a very important player to us," Hardwick said.
"Dan makes really solid decisions in that area so we're very confident that we'll get what we're after."
Richmond will take an experimental team into the Bulldogs clash at Whitten Oval, with all but one of the club's 2014 draftees set to play.
Corey Ellis will sit out as he recovers from an ankle injury.
Senior Tigers Trent Cotchin (hamstring) and Brett Deledio (Achilles) will be held back this week but will play during the NAB Challenge.
Steven Morris will captain the side in Cotchin's absence.
While most neutral eyes will be on $7million Bulldogs recruit Tom Boyd at the other end, Hardwick is set to trial a string of key forwards alongside leading goalkicker Jack Riewoldt.
Ty Vickery, Ben Griffiths and 20-year-old Liam McBean, who is yet to make his AFL debut, are all vying for spots in the best 22.
"We're really excited (because) we've got Griffiths, McBean and Ty Vickery competing really hard and really well for that area," Hardwick said.
"We're probably blessed, whereas sides are crying out for key forwards, we've got a lot of depth in that area.
"We're excited to put them all out on the park at some stages and see how they all go together because they're all capable goal kickers and they're all very good players.
"Unfortunately we can't put them all in the same side so we're just going to have to work our way through that."
