Sections of the Collingwood cheer squad were seen hurling abuse at the likes of Dustin Martin and Jack Riewoldt during the Magpies' humiliating 91-point loss at the MCG.

Martin and Riewoldt gave as good as they got and the former is likely to be fined after being referred to the league's football operations department for dishing out a pair of unsavoury hand gestures to some Collingwood fans.

Rance said he loved the passion shown by footy fans but insisted there was a limit to what was acceptable behaviour.

"I think they definitely approached the line," Rance said of the Magpies faithful.

"It's an emotional, physical game and if they feel like they're helping their side then I think they're well within their rights.

"The supporters are definitely colourful and they make the game what they are.

"I love the passion all supporters show but there is definitely a line there that supporters and players don't necessarily need to cross.

"I know Richmond have got some beautiful passionate supporters too so I'm sure other people will be asked the same about us."

The Tigers' huge win on Saturday was not only their biggest against Collingwood in 39 years but also their 11th win from their past 14 games.

That impressive stretch of form has catapulted Richmond from 13th on the ladder to fifth and just a game outside the top four with two rounds remaining.

Rance said the team's "process" gave them confidence of beating any team in the finals and insisted there was no ceiling on what the Tigers could achieve this year.

"If we can get our process right, we've got a strong belief in our game plan and if we can implement it the right way on field then who knows what could happen," Rance said prior to training at Punt Road Oval on Tuesday.

The reigning All-Australian didn't discount the possibility of a team winning the premiership from outside the top four for the first time since the current top-eight system was introduced in 2000, adding: "Everyone is so close, North are playing some fantastic football, Adelaide are playing some really good football, it is going to be a really, really exciting finals series."

Despite Richmond's impressive run of recent form, Rance scoffed at suggestions that his team was purposely peaking at the right time for a finals tilt.

"I've never really got the concept of timing finals at the right time, I don't think teams ever fox at the start of a season or withhold players," Rance said.

"You just try and win as much as you can, you can't really say, 'I'm going to try and peak here, I'm going to try and peak there'."

Of more immediate concern for Richmond is a meeting with struggling Essendon at the MCG on Saturday night.

Rance cited lowly St Kilda's performance against finals aspirant Geelong last round as a timely reminder that the Tigers couldn't afford to take the Bombers lightly – especially considering Richmond can mathematically still miss out on the finals and have a top-eight showdown with North Melbourne in the final round.

"Essendon with a new coach, potentially a new game plan and things like that, they might have released the shackles so 100 per cent we can't take any game for granted ... you never know what could happen," Rance said.