Richmond need to change their tactics and stamp out mistakes if they're to turn their sagging AFL fortunes around, according to star defender Alex Rance.
Ahead of their clash with fellow battlers Gold Coast at the MCG on Sunday afternoon, the Tigers are stinging from a scathing in-house review of their last round loss to North Melbourne.
Rance wasn't hiding from the disappointment of the 70-point defeat, which left the team in 14th position, just one spot ahead of the Suns.
"There were a lot of glaring mistakes and issues that we want to stamp out so they don't become habit," Rance said.
Despite their ladder position, the two-time All Australian wasn't conceding that their season was done and dusted.
"You're always playing to win so if you're not playing for finals then there's something wrong," he said.
Rance conceded the Tigers may have been caught out by the quicker style of game this season.
"We probably kick along down the line a bit too much at the moment, which really plays into a lot of other team's defence's hands, so they can rebound pretty quickly," he said.
"You're not really going to win a lot of games if you're just going to be kicking long down the line.
"That's one thing that is pretty well publicised that we need to improve on, and we'll do that."
While Richmond want to make a statement about their season, Rance believed the Suns - who haven't won since round three - wouldn't let them have it all their own way.
"Over the last four weeks they're number four for contested ball and tackles so it's definitely not going to be walk in the park," Rance said.
He expects to line up on key Sun Tom Lynch, who he rated as the top forward in the competition at the moment.
Tigers skipper Trent Cotchin didn't train due to illness but is expected to play.
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