Alex Rance enjoyed the best season of his seven-year league career in 2015, winning an inaugural Jack Dyer Medal and gaining All-Australian selection, but the Richmond star key defender is determined to be even better in 2016. 

“I can always improve,” Rance said before the Club’s open training session at Punt Road this morning.

“There’s plenty (of room for improvement) . . . just ask ‘Dimma’ (coach Damien Hardwick) –   especially decision-making things. 

“It’s always been a knock on my game, since my early days, that I would rush and things like that.  So, it’s just about being calm and composed.

“And, as well, about making others around me better, especially ‘Grimesy’ (Dylan Grimes), Nick Vlastuin, Dave Astbury – blokes like that, who are really starting to come into their own, to develop their own leadership skills and to help them to thrive as well.”

Rance strongly endorsed the Club’s recent decision to extend coach Damien Hardwick’s contract by a further two years beyond 2016.

“We’re always behind him, we believe in the direction and the values that he’s given us over the past six years, and we’re really confident that we’re going to have some successful times with him,” Rance said.

The 26-year-old veteran of 130 games, also is adamant the Tigers are well equipped to cover a recent spate of injuries to players.

“We believe in the depth that we’ve got at the Club,” he said.

“We’ve got a few injuries, but most clubs have injuries, too. 

“It’s just something you’ve got to cope with throughout the whole season, and it’s nothing that’s really worrying us . . .”