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Alex Rance may just be the best player in the competition.
It is an era in which midfielders dominate the individual awards and earn the recognition among their peers and coaches.
But this man is changing the discussion, and his brilliant exploits on the football field are no longer going unnoticed.
For the last four years, the man affectionally known as the ‘Trossman’, has patrolled the Tigers defence and been the pillar and strength of the Richmond Football Club.
It is not only his defensive efforts that draw discussion, but it’s Rance’s desperation and clean run out of defence which drop the jaw of any respectable football lover.
No fullback since Matthew Scarlett and Dustin Fletcher in this modern era have had so much impact for their team on both a defensive and offensive scale.
In Friday night’s win against arch rival Collingwood, Rance stood above all players on the ground. Sure, Dustin Martin was industrious and provided the grunt, Trent Cotchin was combative and fierce and Jack Riewoldt was dangerous and crafty around goal, but Rance was the true difference in the contest.
Even last week in Richmond’s capitulating loss to the Giants, Rance was arguably the best player on the ground and the final margin loss of 88 points would have most certainly have been doubled.
In this game, Rance recorded the sixth most intercept possessions (17) in a game of football ever recorded.
His influence and brilliance prompted Wayne Carey, arguably the greatest footballer and forward to grace a football field, to state that Rance could be the greatest defender we have ever seen.
Carey also believes he would have struggled to play against him and was grateful he did not play in the 1990s when Carey roamed the field.
This is a big statement from a man who was a two-time premiership captain, two time AFLPA MVP, seven time All-Australian and North Melbourne captain in their Team of the Century.
On a statistical viewpoint, his game was wonderful. Rance had 26 disposals, 11 contested, 8 marks, 9 rebounds, 7 one percenters and a whopping 75 per cent of his disposals were intercepts. He also kept his opponent Jesse White, non- existent.
What the statistics don’t show is his desperation, the little fingernails, toe pokes and presence.
In a critical moment in Friday night’s contest, Collingwood defender Marley Williams attempted to tap the ball through Rance’s legs. Rance stuck out his right foot, poked the ball back to himself, steadied himself and made a good decision with the ball in hand.
On the stats sheet this is merely one handball, but is a moment which makes you wonder where the Tigers would be without him.
Patrick Dangerfield is a superstar, as is Nat Fyfe, Lance Franklin and Gary Ablett, but Rance is arguably the most valuable player of the last decade.
Rance is a certainty to win three consecutive All-Australian honours and is a chance to win back to back Jack Dyer medals.
Finding a defender that doesn’t lose contests in the air or on the ground, and then can burst away and provide run and carry is rare.
The game is 70 per cent about defending and 30 per cent about attacking. The fact that star defenders are not looked at in the same vein as midfielders who have the same amount of impact is unjust.
Sure, winning the ball forward of centre is important but transition from defence can be the difference in a game of football.
No player is more organised defensively and offensively to transition the ball like Alex Rance and that makes him just as good as some of the elite midfielders in the competition.
The last true key position player to win a Brownlow medal was way back in 1992 when Scott Wynd took home Charlie, and the last player to win the AFLPA MVP award was Nick Riewoldt in 2004.
No one would be surprised if Rance breaks this mould and opens up a new avenue for key position players.
Rance’s decision to continue to play AFL at the end of 2014 was an inspired decision for both himself and the Richmond Football Club.
After flirting with the idea of retirement, Rance eventually put pen to a paper on a big money deal to stay at the Tigers and strive to lead the club into glory.
The Richmond Football Club would be breathing a sigh of relief at Rance’s long term commitment to the club.
For Richmond’s future, it must keep Rance happy.
Alex Rance is a defender that draws crowds and worry’s opposition and that is rare in the modern game.
Richmond fans count your blessing that you have Alex Rance.
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