Richmond’s brilliant ‘bookends’ Alex Rance and Jack Riewoldt provided an interesting insight into each other’s fine on-field qualities during a ‘Fox Footy’ interview following their selection in the 2018 All Australian team last night. Here’s what they had to say . . .

Rance on Riewoldt

“I just love the contest work that he brings. He’s very rarely outmarked, and everyone sees the very ‘specky’ things he does – sitting on people’s shoulders and putting other people in great positions – but I just love when the ball gets brought to ground and he can really go to work with the other speedy half-forwards that we do have.

“It’s pretty amazing, three Colemans (Coleman Medals) . . . it’s a phenomenal feat. I think it’s not so much his goalkicking prowess that we all admire about Jack, it’s his ability to put other people in great positions, too. And, again, his leadership qualities are fantastic. He’s pretty much running a day-care up forward at the moment with all the youngsters that he has there. So, he’s a fantastic leader and a really inspiring forward.”

Riewoldt on Rance

“He’s a very, very tough player. I think if there was one attribute I could take out of Alex Rance and give to every one of our players, or any player that plays AFL, it would be his competitiveness. He’s certainly a very talented person, but just that drive and competitiveness is the one thing that sets him apart from the other great players in our game.

“He’s been solid for us down back (in 2018). I think he’s taken a real leadership role. You’ve only got to look at a guy that was in the 40 (All Australian squad) for us in Dylan Grimes playing down back, and Jayden Short, David Astbury and Nick Vlastuin – guys that have taken some big steps forward. And it’s off the back of Alex’s leadership . . . He’s become a little bit more of a general there, imparting his knowledge on to some guys that are turning themselves into very handy players for us.”