Star Richmond key defender Alex Rance has emphasised the importance of the Tigers continuing the quest to inject more boldness into their back half.

Long-term injuries to players such as Bachar Houli and Kamdyn McIntosh, along with the unavailability all season so far of talented mature-age recruit from Carlton, Chris Yarran, has deprived Richmond’s backline of crucial run-and-carry.

In last Friday night’s clash with Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, the Tigers were forced to swing their vice-captain Brett Deledio from half-forward to half-back in a bid to generate more drive out of defence.

Deledio responded superbly, racking up 23 disposals in the second half and providing the team with some much-needed rebound.

“We saw when Brett came down there that it livened it up a little bit,” Rance said on SEN.

“I think we have been known in the past to be quite a dour defence. 

“We probably need to improve that aspect.  That’s why we’ve tried a lot of players through there – Jayden Short, Corey Ellis, Reece Conca, Brett Deledio . . .

“It’s definitely shown now that North Melbourne have set a pretty decent blueprint, Hawthorn, the Bulldogs have got some really good kickers and some line-breakers in their backline.

“It shows that we’re probably going to have to get some more playmakers and a little bit more exciting out of our backline.”