Crows boast the league's best forward line: Rance

The Crows were the only side to average more than 100 points (109.8) through the home-and-away campaign, and have not been beaten in the 15 times they have notched three figures.

Their multi-pronged attack has continued to be dominant in September, scoring 84 points against Greater Western Sydney and 136 against Geelong in the preliminary final.

The Tigers have one of the tightest defences, conceding 76.5 points per game, but gave up 140 in their 76-point loss to the Crows in round six.

All-Australian Rance, who is likely to be given the task of quelling Taylor Walker, has backed the Tigers' defensive "system" to get the job done.

"The points do speak for themselves so they are, obviously, the best offensive team in the comp," Rance said on Monday.

"GWS were a pretty good offensive side, too. Their ball movement versus West Coast showed that pretty well. If we can bring our defensive intent, which we did at the weekend, it will definitely make the game interesting.

"I am sure there are plenty of different things to play out during the game, winning the contest and things like that. But if we can bring our defensive intent, it will stand us in pretty good stead."

The Tigers averaged 90.5 points per game through the home-and-away campaign but were able to reach three figures for the seventh time this year on Saturday night.

Rance said the Crows' record when having posted 100 points would not be a focus.

"It's not on my mind too much. If you have always got a goal in your head to limit, less than 100 points, less than 80 points, you are setting yourself up for success or failure. It's more about live in the moment, enjoy each contest for what it is, and really soak it in," he said.

Walker booted five goals when the teams last met, with Rance declaring the Crows' skipper - voted the league's best captain - played in the manner of former Fremantle champion Matthew Pavlich.

"I feel he is in a very similar mould to Matthew Pavlich. He was that true centre half-forward, the double threat, where he can go forward, go back, take a strong mark and he is a bit of a conduit as well," he said.

"He doesn't really have too many weaknesses. It's just about a little bit of help upfield, a little bit of pressure, some dirty balls and me just trying to limit his effectiveness."

While there will be several intriguing match-ups, with Dylan Grimes likely to stand Eddie Betts, and David Astbury likely to have time on Josh Jenkins and Walker, Rance stressed that "good footy minds will see that systems are prevailing more so than match-ups".

The Tigers had a light run at Punt Road Oval on Monday morning. Rance said it had been a "surreal, weird" 48 hours, with the Tigers soaking in the grand final atmosphere but that was set to change once their weekly review had been held.

Now in his 10th season, Rance, who considered quitting in 2015, said he had never allowed himself to dream about playing in a grand final, preferring to "stay pretty present".

"But, I think now, if I had of finished football a few years ago, sliding doors moment, I would have hated to have missed out on this feeling, this amount of enjoyment to see so many smiles on the faces of support staff and things like that," he said.

The Tigers have been open this season about coach Damien Hardwick and skipper Trent Cotchin becoming more "open" and "vulnerable" to the players, leading to a more constructive environment after the troubles of 2016.

"I wouldn't say that he [Hardwick] has changed heaps. I would probably say that he has shown more of his personality from a vulnerability perspective and allowed us to be vulnerable at the same time, too. It creates that deeper connection," Rance said.

"We never had any doubt that he cared for us. It was more about us showing that we cared back and feeling appreciated for that. I don't think he has changed from black to white - he will always be himself. He has just shown that vulnerable side."