Although Alex Rance had a heap of individual accolades bestowed upon him following an outstanding 2015 season, it’s team success that he now craves more than anything in his AFL career.

Rance gained All-Australian selection for a second successive year, won his first Jack Dyer Medal, and was widely acclaimed as the best key defender in the competition.

But the major source of motivation for the 25-year-old veteran of 130 league games, is Richmond attaining sustained success.

“I know I can play the game.  I know I can make it at the level.  I just want to win now,” Rance told ‘Roar Vision’.

“I’ve got a lot of love for the men that have built the culture of this club.

“I was never a Richmond supporter when I was growing up, so I didn’t have too many ties to it.

“When I came over (from WA), I lived with Chris Newman and I watched Nathan Foley, Kane Johnson, and blokes like that build a culture . . .

“I feel responsible to carry that on and to try and improve it.

“They need to be respected for what they did when they were here because it was a tough time for them.  And, it was a tough time for me at the start of my career. 

“But we’re past that now.  We’re interested in some successful times. 

“We just need to stay the course and keep improving.”

On a personal level, Rance believes he still has more to offer in his key defensive role within the Richmond line-up.

“There are always elements I can tidy up and things that I can improve on,” Rance said.

“I can still focus for longer, concentrate for longer, and I can always get fitter.

“I think once you’re satisfied, that’s when you start to go backwards and blokes start to go over the top of you.  And, I certainly don’t want that to happen for myself or for anyone else in the back seven, or the 22 in general.”

Rance is bullish about the Tigers’ backline unit.

“We’ve got a great group, that are really well led,” he said.

“Ben Rutten (backline coach) has been a fantastic addition this year.  He’s very much process driven and he’s current . . . He knows what’s required to be an elite backline. 

“We care for each other . . . We’ve got ‘Batch’ (Jake Batchelor), ‘Grimesy’ (Dylan Grimes) and Nick Vlastuin, who’ve all made amazing steps up this year.  And add Taylor Hunt into there as well. 

“I think we’ve got the right mix, so I think we’re going to be okay.”