There has been speculation that the new 6-6-6 set-up at centre bounces and the greater importance of ruckmen might particularly affect the 2017 premiers.

The Tigers were also the premiership favourites last year before their upset preliminary final loss to Collingwood.

Part of the reason for Richmond's rise to power has been a willingness to take tactical risks.

Jack Riewoldt has played as their only permanent tall forward, although that will change in 2019 with the arrival of Tom Lynch.

Toby Nankervis has also usually been their only genuine ruckman, with makeshift support from Shaun Grigg.

"When these rules come in, it's important not to throw out the baby with the bath water and re-jig game plans," said Rance.

"Football always regresses back to that point of just playing the game."

Rance said the key, as always, would be to roll with the punches as the season unfolded.

"At the start of the season it might be very contested, in the middle of the season it might be very open and at the end of the season it might come back to being contested again," he said.

"So you just have to be flexible, making sure the coaching staff and the playing group are really well-connected."

Rance said the abrupt end to last season had stuck with him, but added it was vital to remember it was only one bad night of football.

"It weighs on my mind a little bit as well, at times, but also recognising that it's just one game," he said.

"We had a winning season, all-told, so focusing on the positives out of that season ... it can happen to the best of us."

Rance and Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury, who are AFLX Flyers teammates, had tossed around the idea of a longer finals series.

"The thought of shortening the season and making it best-of-three or something like that, so you can really identify who the best teams are," he said.

"On a day if a couple of players don't ruck up or the team isn't quite gelling, you can get knocked off.

"I would like a shorter season with more of an extended finals series, and then the minutes of a game probably to be shrunk a little bit."

Australian Associated Press