There will be many glowing words written and spoken about Alex Rance following the announcement of his retirement from AFL football earlier today. And, while we could well add to those plaudits, we thought it worthwhile to look at the champion Richmond key defender’s elite, on-field achievements during his time at the game’s highest level, since being taken by the Tigers from WAFL club Swan Districts, as a priority pick (No. 18 overall) at the end of the first round of the 2007 AFL national draft.

Rance retires to focus on family and faith

Games at Richmond: 200

Goals: 9

Playing honours: Member of Richmond’s 2017 premiership team, Club co vice-captain 2017-19, Jack Dyer Medal winner 2015, five-time All-Australian representative 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, All-Australian captain 2017, winner of the Tigers’ Most Improved Player award 2011.

AFL career averages

Kicks: 8.9

Handballs: 7.7

Disposals: 16.6

Marks: 5.7

Contested possessions: 6.2

Uncontested possessions: 9.6

Rebound-50s: 3.2

Intercepts: 4.2

Score involvements: 1.2

Tackles: 2.4

One-percenters: 7.6

Metres gained: 105.5

10:15

Rance reflects with Richo

Alex Rance sits down with Matthew Richardson to talk about his career at Richmond.

AFL career-high performances

Kicks: 21 v Collingwood, Round 2, 2012, MCG

Handballs: 18 v GWS, Round 10, 2014, Giants Stadium

Disposals: 34 v Collingwood, Round 2, 2012, MCG

Marks: 17 v Collingwood, Round 2, 2012, MCG

Contested marks: 5 v Fremantle, Round 5, 2013, Domain Stadium and v GWS, Round 19, 2016, GIO Stadium, Canberra

Contested possessions: 14 v GWS, Round 19, 2016, GIO Stadium, Canberra

Uncontested possessions: 24 v Fremantle, Round 17, 2013, MCG

Rebound-50s: 11 v North Melbourne, Round 17, 2012, MCG and v Carlton, Round 1, 2013, MCG

Inside-50s: 4 v Geelong, Round 2, 2009, GMHBA Stadium, v Fremantle, Round 5, 2010, Domain Stadium and v GWS, Round 19, 2014, MCG

Intercepts: 17 v GWS, Round 19, GIO Stadium, Canberra

00:00

Round 17: Rance desperation

Alex Rance prevents a Freo goal with a brilliant tackle.

Score involvements: 7 v Collingwood, Round 7, 2015, MCG

Goals: 3 v Fremantle, Round 5, 2010, Domain Stadium

Goal assists: 3 v GWS, Round 19 2014, MCG

Clearances: 3 v Sydney, Round 21, 2011, MCG

Bounces: 5 v Western Bulldogs, Round 2, 2015, MCG, v Gold Coast, Round 20, 2015, MCG and v North Melbourne, Round 23, 2015, Marvel Stadium

Hit-outs: 3 v Hawthorn, Round 21, 2009, MCG

Tackles: 8 v Brisbane, Round 3, 2015, Gabba

One-percenters: 19 v Geelong, Round 21, 2016, MCG

Metres gained: 447 v West Coast, Round 3, 2017, MCG

Brownlow votes: 8 in 2015 and in 2017

03:10

Career best of Alex Rance

Watch Alex Rance's career highlights.