Selfless Richmond duo Alex Rance and Jack Graham have tied for the Club’s prestigious Francis Bourke Award.
The pair were presented with their awards at Tuesday night’s 2019 Jack Dyer Medal function.
The Francis Bourke Award, named in honour of Richmond’s five-time premiership hero and Club ‘Immortal’, is determined by the Tigers’ current-day playing group.
Each week throughout the season, the playing group cast votes on a 3-2-1 basis for the players that best uphold their trademarks values.
Despite being sidelined for last Saturday’s Grand Final victory, Rance and Graham both played huge roles in the Tigers’ premiership campaign.
When Rance suffered a season-ending knee injury in the opening round, he took it in his stride.
The veteran defender had a huge influence on the development of Richmond’s playing group throughout 2019, in particular the Tigers’ backmen.
Rance, who has now won the Francis Bourke Award six times, put the Club first when he decided not to pursue a return to playing football in 2019.
Many Tigers have credited Rance in assisting them through rehabilitation in 2019, and he also took on a coaching role in the VFL.
He was an enormous contributor in that win and throughout the 2019 season.
Here are the other 2019 Jack Dyer Medal night award winners…
Bill Cosgrove-Harry Jenkins Best First Year Player Award – Sydney Stack
Guinane Medal (VFL Best and Fairest Award) – Daniel Coffield
VFLW Best and Fairest Award – Monique Conti
Conti had an instant impact upon arrival at Tigerland in April.
VWFL Best and Fairest Award - Chris Henderson
He scored five goals in that Grand Final win and was a impressive performer throughout the season.
Michael Roach (leading goalkicker award) – Tom Lynch