Two of Richmond’s modern-day stars have heaped praise on Tiger defender Alex Rance, as he approaches his 100th AFL game.

Matthew Richardson and Brett Deledio have described Rance as a fierce and incredibly hard-working competitor, meticulous in his preparation, who loves a joke, but cares for his team-mates.

Richardson’s final two years as a player were Rance’s first two at Richmond, and the former Tiger remembers the instant impact a raw 18-year-old made on the playing group.

“The first training session I reckon he ever did, I came out into the race and I could see the boys doing strides from one end of the ground to the other,” Richardson said.

“Rancey was that keen to impress, and that competitive, he was 20 metres in front in each stride and was giving everything.

“My first impression was, I don’t know if this guy can play, but I know one thing, he’s going to give his all, train hard, and give everything he’s got.

“That set the precedent for Rancey, because that’s how he plays. 

“He’s a great defender.  He’s become just about the best one-on-one defender in the comp at the moment.”

Rance was taken with selection 18 in the 2007 National Draft – the same draft as Trent Cotchin, who went at pick two overall.

He played well at VFL level in his first year on the list but couldn’t break through for a senior game – he would have to wait until Round 2, 2009, when he picked up 18 disposals against Geelong.

He floated in and out of the senior side the following year, before his coming of age as a footballer – when he settled as a key defender in 2011.

He played 19 games that year, laying the foundations for what is turning out to be an impressive career.

Deledio has watched Rance grow as a player throughout his first seven years, and has marveled at his ability to carve his niche in a team which, at times, seemed not to have a place for him.

“I don’t think they were sure where to play him at first.  He went forward, and might kick a few goals here and there, but it didn’t really come naturally for him,” Deledio said.

“We even tried him on ball as a tagger on ball, because he was so fit and strong.  That didn’t really suit him either.

“I think ‘Leppa’ (former assistant coach Justin Leppitsch) was great for him.  He taught him a lot about defence. 

“He’s gone from an average player to a great player, I think.  He’s reaping the rewards of hard work and discipline to get the best out of himself.”

There is absolutely no doubting Rance’s standing among the playing group.

Twice, in 2011 and 2013, he has won the Club’s Francis Bourke Award, which is voted on by the players based on the values they aim to live by, both on and off the field.

He is the man they turn to when times are tough.  When the group needs a lift.

“His care for the group is second to none.  Most of the time when you see that joker, he’s just trying to get the boys up and about because we’re flat,” Deledio said.

“But he spends a lot of time thinking about how we can get better and he really, genuinely cares about our side, and making sure we’re a good side.”

Rance was sorely missed on the field in the early rounds of the 2014 season, but he has more than made up for it since.

In 10 games this year, he averages 18 disposals, six marks and three tackles per game.  Not surprisingly, he leads the Club for one percenters.