North Melbourne great David King has outlined the four key factors which will determine whether Richmond can keep their premiership chances alive without star defender Alex Rance.
The All-Australian captain endured a devastating ACL injury during the third term of his side's opening round game against Carlton last week, forcing Tigers to consider life without their defensive weapon.
"I've probably stopped short a couple of times of saying, "They can't win without (Rance)'," King said on Fox Footy's AFL 360.
"But the more you watch - particularly from behind the goals - it's not that you can't replace the player, it's that he does so much in their system. He is the system.
"He is the reason they play the way they do. They have a forward half press because this guy can do everything."
King said there are four key factors surrounding Richmond's upcoming season, the signs which may expose one of the more dominant teams of the past two seasons.
"If too many Richmond defenders fly because there's no trust. If four go up, the ball spills and it's an easy goal."
The entire back six is guided by Rance's leadership and football smarts. Without him, they have the potential to fall apart when the ball is bombed inside defensive 50 or thereabouts.
Here King is describing what teams in recent seasons have had trouble with going up against the Tigers, where too many key defenders fly for a contest to only result in a goal for one of Richmond's mosquito fleet forwards.
"Where someone gets the position wrong in the system. Then there's an easy goal out the back."
Throughout his illustrious career, Rance has consistently been that general down back for the Tigers. His ability to position players up the ground, successfully read a developing play and rarely lose a defensive contest is what makes him one of the greatest full-backs of the modern-era.
Richmond's last man in defence will now have to be one of David Astbury or Nick Vlastuin, and it is up to them to operate Rance's system.
"They just get beaten. Maybe they just get beaten one-on-one which doesn't happen against Richmond."
With the inclusion of the 6-6-6 format affecting how teams set up structurally, the Tigers will be forced to operate without a loose down back, meaning all defenders will be accountable.
Following injury setback for defender Bachar Houli, Richmond will look for a different path when protecting their defensive 50. Last week against the Blues, they had a winger (usually Jayden Short) start on his line before running to help the back six after the ball is bounced - they might continue to play like these with a weaker backline.
"Who is it that's going to elevate?"
King is worried that not one member of the back six is ready for the role and responsibility Rance would commit to. Both Nick Vlastuin and Dylan Grimes have grown into exceptional defenders, while Nathan Broad and David Astbury help limit opposition charges - but it could be up to the entire group to share the leadership workload Rance implemented into the team.
"I think we're going to form some pretty strong opinions in the next couple of weeks," King said.
"But this is a greater loss than I've ever seen to a team in a premiership window."