Alex Rance | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
  • IMPORTANT // Please look after your loved ones, yourself and be kind to others. If you are feeling that the world is too hard to handle there is always help - I implore you not to hesitate in contacting one of these wonderful organisations Lifeline and Beyond Blue ... and I'm sure reaching out to our PRE community we will find a way to help. T.

Alex Rance

Geez, what a meltdown of a thread.

Rance retired, no Richmond supporter will be happy as he is the sort of player you can't really replace, greats can't just be replaced, they just aren't that common.

He gave us many years of enjoyment and we are all thankful for this but ultimately it is his decision to go.

His religion is his business. I have never been a fan of religion but not my life so not my choice.

The rumours of an affair seem to be a complete fabrication so let's just let that crap die a natural death.

I have no social media so don't give a crap what is said on social media. I suspect that the club, Rance and the other players didn't want to create more interest in and speculation (not to mention making crap up) about his retirement, so they have chosen not to comment on this. I think that is a good move given the reports about Rance's marriage being in trouble. The less fuel given to the media the less they can crap on about this - let Rance and his wife sort this out in private, none of our business.

I also reiterate that I reckon Rance was talking about retiring shortly after the season but was convinced to think about it for a while before announcing the retirement, or maybe he was more focussed on his life given the issues with his marriage. In any case, while I agree the timing wasn't great, I don't think there is anything untoward in this, it just happened when it happened.

Now, let's cut the speculation, cut the intrusiveness and let Alex get on with his life and choose if he wants to return to footy. The more forums like this speculate and rant about this issue the more grist there is for the media to blow everything out of proportion and make up more crap.

DS

Have been reading everything here since the announcement but didn't want to join the commentary.
But this probably best sums up my take on things.
 
We had two rucks up and going during our surge to flag 2019.

Also, two key forwards.

This means three things:

1) there is less need for Nank / Soldo to drift forward b/c they would just cramp jack and Tom and clutter mosquito lanes.

2) one of the rucks can routinely play a kick behind, and if need be drop back into the hole.

3) we are improving our first contest and thus winning more clearances.

The upshot of this is that we have less reliance on key defender aerialism, taking pressure off grimes and vlastuin.

Soldo, in particular, showed great strides in this area in 2019.

You can’t replace Rance, but you can structure up around his absence and emerge even better.

I’m pretty comfortable with our list going into 2020.

Soldo in particular looked to be getting better at positioning himself in the holes late in the season. Real old school ruckman style. Benny would have been proud. Funny how our shape has almost come full circle. A traditional marking tall monstering the forward line and rucks who can tap and defend. While other clubs will be (are) trying to mimick our 2017-2019 style we continue to evolve. Loved Jack's comment - goosebumps as others have said. I believe we'll miss Tross most when the opposition have a big marking forward also.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Soldo in particular looked to be getting better at positioning himself in the holes late in the season. Real old school ruckman style. Benny would have been proud. Funny how our shape has almost come full circle. A traditional marking tall monstering the forward line and rucks who can tap and defend. While other clubs will be (are) trying to mimick our 2017-2019 style we continue to evolve. Loved Jack's comment - goosebumps as others have said. I believe we'll miss Tross most when the opposition have a big marking forward also.

Yep, it is taking a while as you would expect, but Soldo is learning to read the game a whole lot better. He can be very useful down back and occasionally forward. Add in a tall back, maybe Balta though not convinced he is suited (CCJ maybe, ruck and defence?) but I do think we need a defender around 195cm (6'5") or taller for the tall forwards.

DS
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Things happen for a reason,
Things happen that cant be explained,
It continues at Punt Rd.
Rance walks away but Little Castagnafield walks straight back in.
We will be unstoppable.
Castagnafield -Lynch -Junior Castagnafield
 
Just looking through the first 3 pages of this thread (2007), There are some fair dinkum anazing footy prophets on this site. So many of our faithful with strong backgroud knowledge of Rancey who were so rapt to draft him.Take a bow guys.
Try reading about page 17 many were calling for his delisting.
 
Yep, it is taking a while as you would expect, but Soldo is learning to read the game a whole lot better. He can be very useful down back and occasionally forward. Add in a tall back, maybe Balta though not convinced he is suited (CCJ maybe, ruck and defence?) but I do think we need a defender around 195cm (6'5") or taller for the tall forwards.

DS
Astbury is 195cms.
 
I hate the word when it comes to footy. It'll be used to beat us over the head if we fall short of winning the flag. I'm disowning it totally.

In other words, the biggest football-related concern for 2020 is...

“What if they rip on us for not being a dynasty?”

The club has sure come a long way!
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: 1 users
My bulldog supporting brother in law , always says , he shouldve been father son for the dogs, his dad Murray didnt quite play enough games........I didnt know any better ,

Just read page 1 and an article there says his dad played 40 for the dogs and 57 for the eagles , pretty funny really, nowhere near father son material for the dogs
 
Yeah, just reckon we need one more tall back with Rance going, he was around 195 too wasn't he?

DS
Close. 194. Grimes is listed as 193 I think, and Broad is 192. I agree that another big guy would be useful. I hope Balta can be developed into the role.
 
I don't think either the club or Balta himself knows his best position yet. Hopefully we will find out in 2020

Yeah I would back Bolter to replace Rance as he appears to have that free spirit which Rance displayed from day one. Bolter very green at the moment but give him a permanent role down back he will mature quite quickly.
 
Yeah I would back Bolter to replace Rance as he appears to have that free spirit which Rance displayed from day one. Bolter very green at the moment but give him a permanent role down back he will mature quite quickly.
The thing that Rance had early that Balta doesn't have is an innate ability to read the play and intercept
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
The thing that Rance had early that Balta doesn't have is an innate ability to read the play and intercept

He’s not Rance (no one is or will be) but Pretty sure I can recall a couple of super intercepts in Adelaide leaving his man and streaming up the middle of the ground to set up or kick goals.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Although having a high level defensive instinct is invaluable, do you all recall the Benny Hill-esque theatrics in our back 50 when we had Rance learning defence with Luke McGuane?

Those times prove that you can LEARN how to defend.

Rance turned into the AFL's best defender in around 3 years of perseverance under the guidance of an experienced defensive coach.

We still have Leppa in our coaching team and I am confident that one of our talls such as Balta can step up if required.

Rance had the tools to succeed, I believe Balta especially, has them too.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 4 users
One thing Balta would have that Alex didn’t early days was a settled, tight, experienced defensive unit that know their job and do it better than any other in the comp.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users