Alex Rance will play no further part in the 2019 AFL season, after it was confirmed the star defender tore his anterior cruciate ligament in Richmond’s season-opening win over Carlton last night.
Rance landed awkwardly in a marking contest during the third quarter of the clash against the Blues, his right knee buckling inwards slightly, and the Tigers have released a statement confirming he sustained an ACL tear and won’t play again this year.
“We’re really disappointed for Alex that he’ll spend an extended period of time out of the game, he’s a wonderful player and fantastic leader of our team,” Richmond’s general manager of football, Neil Balme, said.
“Alex, to his credit, has been incredibly positive since the injury occurred, and we’ll continue to rally around him in the coming days and throughout his rehab process.
“While we’ll miss his on-field contribution this season, we know he’ll apply the same dedication and discipline to his rehab and recovery, and we will continue to provide our ongoing support to him.”
Rance is expected to undergo surgery in the next few days to repair the ligament. The usual 12-month recovery from an ACL injury would have him on track to play the full 2020 season.
The news is a major blow to Richmond’s premiership hopes. Long considered the premier back in the AFL – he’s the only player in the entire competition to have made the last five All Australian team – Rance’s absence will leave the side without their key defender.
It will also be the first time the club will have to manage without one of their four key players; Rance, Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt had all avoided major injuries in the last two years as Richmond cemented themselves as one of the competition’s strongest sides.
The 29-year-old’s injury – coming in his 200th AFL match, too – was the only sour note after what was an otherwise positive Round 1 fixture for the Tigers. New recruit Tom Lynch, while evidently rusty following posterior cruciate ligament surgery last year – kicked three goals on debut, and the side ran out to what ended up being a quite comfortable 33-point win after Carlton threatened to hit the lead in the middle of the match.
Richmond’s next match is next Thursday night against Collingwood in what will be a rematch of last year’s preliminary final.
Alfred
Guest
'What most clubs experience every year'...so you're saying that the majority of clubs lose one of their top 1-2 players (who is also one of the best in the comp) for the entire season, every year?? Ridiculous and erroneous statement. Guess Richmond's dream run for a long time also included Astbury out with knees, Grimes with hamstrings, Cotchin achilles, Deledio calf, Rioli foot, Houli groin, Caddy for a chunk this year, Prestia missing chunks 2018/17. And that's just off the top of my head, guarantee I've missed some. Only club in a similar predicament to Richmond this year is Hawthorn, every other club is better off injury wise
Pelican
Roar Rookie
It sad to see such a great personality of the game out but he handled the situation with poise. Wouldn't have known he had a blown knee by his demeanour. Irrepressible
Angela
Guest
How risky is AFL? The injury rate of AFL players is astronomical.
Peter Warrington
Guest
That really wasn't true in 17 when we lost both griffiths and Hammer after trading Vickery and won a flag with Nank and Grigg in the ruck. Or last year, when all of our tackling (rather than pressuring) players like Graham and Conca were out at the same time and Rioli was playing sore, and Houli's rebound was missing or restricted. We just coped with absence better than others. Until we didn't. I am sure we will have a red hot go at coping without Rance. Considering he almost retired a couple of times in the last 3-4 years, I suspect we have a contingency.
Peter Warrington
Guest
Grimes, Astbury and Vlastuin working with Rance were a key reason we were so good in 17 and 18. Broad a mean and nasty back pocketer. Vlastuin and Grimes can both play above their height. Balta looks more athletic than Garthwaite so he might be the guy to go back. Alternatively Lynch can spend a season at chb and win a Glendenning Brownlow.
Raimond
Roar Guru
Rance absorbs so much one-on-one pressure, they’ll have to come up with a completely different plan down back.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Goldsack is a depth player shifty at this stage of his career. He was available for tonights game for example, but selected as an emergency.
shifty
Roar Rookie
I don't watch alot of the pies, being from WA but is goldsack a first few names on the whiteboard kinda fella or more of a fringe type of player?
Paul D
Roar Guru
I said no such thing. Merely made an observation about how Richmond were conducting themselves.
Larry1950
Guest
So top players should play soft against the rookies, weird attitude.
anon
Roar Pro
Richmond defence is quite thin. I'm not sure it was ever really a strength. Their edge was in locking the ball in the forward 50. At his age he might be damaged goods after this injury. West Coast won a premiership without Nick Nataui and Gaff, so if Richmond are really any good they'll be overcome this minor setback no trouble.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Sad news for Rance, hard to feel sad for Richmond as a club though, they have had a fairly blessed run. Richmond were acting much like bully boys last night, really beating up on some of the Carlton kids in the contest. Reminded me a bit of how the Lions used to make life miserable for visiting sides at the gabba back in the day. There will be an almighty reckoning for the Tiges if they sink back into the cellar in the future, lot of sides will delight in sticking the knife in again
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
* capitalised in 2017 (I should remember 2016).
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Daniel, this is the first time Richmond have had to deal with a significant injuries to one of their top tier players in 5-6 years, maybe even longer. Most other club's in recent years have had to manage without one or more of their stars. Geelong being the other exception that comes to mind. It makes a big, big difference to clubs. Richmond have had a dream run for a long time and capitalised in 2016, but will now experience what most clubs experience every year.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Tyson Goldsack did his knee about the same time as Alex, this time last year. He played finals so it is possible for sure he can make it back.
sammy
Guest
Sad news for him personally - it is such a long rehab to come back and at 29, he knows there are not too many years left at the top level so will be really keen to tick every box in his recovery. How will this affect Richmond? they lose their best tall rebounding defender and with the 6-6-6, it will be harder for them to defend the fast long ball in. I don't know who will replace him but it surely must now put a ? over their chances this seaso
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Tyson Goldsack showed it not impossible to get back within same season. If there's another one who could do it, i wouldn't put past Rance. Such an innocus incident. How fickel is the human body.
48points
Roar Rookie
He’ll be back before the year is out. Richmond’s medical team are freaks.