Star key defender Alex Rance has been rated Richmond’s best player, and the AFL competition’s best backman, by his peers in the lead-up to the 2017 season.

Players from all 18 league clubs were presented with the challenge of ranking the competition’s current top 50 performers, and Rance was placed 10^th overall.

Rance, an All-Australian representative for the past three years, is one of three Tigers to feature in the annual ‘AFL Players’ Top 50’ list.

He’s been joined by gun midfield pair Trent Cotchin (No. 48) and Dustin Martin (No. 12).

Here are the profiles on each of the three Richmond players who feature in the 2017 AFL Players’ Top 50 . . .

48. Trent Cotchin
Richmond
Midfielder
Last year’s ranking: 22
Official AFL Player Rating: 39
Debut: 2008
Games: 173
AFL Fantasy value: $585,000

One of the game’s most scrutinised stars, Cotchin plunges 26 spots in his peers’ ranking since last year, having ranked as high as No. 9 in 2014. He led the Tigers through a difficult 2016, but battled on manfully in the midfield. Support for the 26-year-old has been an issue at Richmond in recent seasons, but aggressive recruiting should see him given more freedom to play forward, where he is deceptively strong in one-on-one contests. If the Tigers stay the course with a mooted game plan that will be more aggressive, Cotchin will have opportunities to be a more damaging player. Sharing the heavy lifting in 2017 could see him return to the career-best football he played in 2012, for which he now owns a Brownlow Medal.

12. Dustin Martin
Richmond
Midfield
Last year’s ranking: 20
Official AFL Player Rating: 30
Debut: 2010
Games: 153
AFL Fantasy value: $646,000

The explosive Tiger won his first club Best and Fairest last year after moving into the midfield and developing his inside game. His numbers followed accordingly and he climbs 10 spots in the AFL Players’ Top 50 – his highest ever ranking. In 2016, Martin racked up a career-high 31 disposals a game, as well as an average of over five clearances. The move into the midfield cost him on the scoreboard, with the tough midfielder dropping from 24 goals in 2015 to just nine. However, the Tigers plan to get more attack from him in 2017 with the arrival of Josh Caddy and Dion Prestia to release him to the forward half more often.

10. Alex Rance
Richmond
Defender
Last year’s ranking: 19
Official AFL Player Rating: 27
Debut: 2009
Games: 150
AFL Fantasy value: $461,000

The three-time All Australian defender continues to do it all. Ranked by his fellow players as the best defender in this year’s AFL Players’ Top 50 countdown, Rance can lock down on opponents, cut off forward forays and rebound offensively. He rated elite for disposals and intercepts last year, and was above average for kicking, metres gained, spoiling and defending in one-on-one contests. Has been consistent and durable in the last two years, having missed just two games, and placed runner-up in the club’s Best and Fairest last season after winning it in 2015.