The following article was featured in the 2011 Fighting Tiger Yearbook.

From the moment he walked through the doors at Punt Road at the end of 2007, Alex Rance has been a football department favourite.

He is a larrikin, a prankster and a master impressionist, but is also one of the hardest workers on the training track, and a fine example to those around him.

On the field, in his first few seasons, Rance was shuffled around in different positions, never really nailing down a single spot on the field.

His courage and attack on the football were never questioned, nor was his application to getting the best out of himself physically.

But in his third season, in 2010, Rance played just 10 games, including stints at Richmond’s VFL affiliate Coburg.

Less than 12 months on, Rance has become Mr Dependable at Tigerland.

He found his niche as a stay-at-home key defender, and played 19 out of 22 games, averaged 18 disposals and led the Tigers in one-percenters.

The courage and hard edge are still there, but so too are calmness under pressure, improved decision making, and an ability to blanket the opposition’s best attacking weapons.

Another full pre season helped, as did the tutelage of Richmond assistant coach, and former Brisbane Lions centre-half-back, Justin Leppitsch.

“He probably caught the match committee by surprise a bit this year, by the amount he actually improved,” Leppitsch said of Rance’s 2011 performance.

“He was able to hold down the key defensive post this season, showing fantastic leadership within his role.

“We expect him to be a long term key position prospect at Richmond.”

A true representation of Rance’s improvement in 2011 came with the announcement of the Francis Bourke Award at the Jack Dyer Medal presentation night - an honour voted on by the players themselves, for the one who best displays the Club’s trademarks of awareness, belief and discipline.

The 21-year-old said he was honoured to be recognised in that way by his team-mates, but they clearly didn’t doubt his quality as a player and a person - he won the award with 18 votes, seven clear of second place.

Perhaps equally as impressive, Rance also won the Most Improved Player Award at the Jack Dyer Medal, edging out a number of Richmond players who took giant strides in 2011.

“It was a massive year for a lot of guys, like Ty Vickery and Dylan Grimes, to name a few, who have been big improvers,” Rance said.

“It’s a big honour to mentioned alongside those guys.  It was a developing year for me, and I’m just looking forward to bigger and better things in 2012.”