RICHMOND defender Alex Rance says the fallout from his two-match suspension for striking Jack Watts is the lowest personal point of his nine-year career in the AFL.
Rance accepted his ban earlier on Tuesday, which rules him out of clashes against Port Adelaide and Hawthorn, and said he had apologised to his teammates and to Watts.
The All Australian defender said he didn't want to be remembered for what he called a "stupid and emotional act".
"I've had some pretty low points in my career, but I think from a perspective of knowing better and knowing the person I want to be and the person I want to portray, absolutely," Rance said when asked if it was the lowest point in his career.
"It's a pretty low emotional time … I haven't been this low in a long time.
"It's something that I can't take back. It's going to be out there for good, and one thing I can pass on to the younger players now is to be so careful of your actions because often things like that stick.
"I'm absolutely remorseful for what I did and very frustrated at myself, because I know I've let my teammates down and I don't want that perception to be made of me."
Rance struck Watts in the back of the head in Sunday night's clash against Melbourne after the pair had fallen to ground in a marking contest.
The Match Review Panel viewed the strike in a particularly dim light because of the potential to cause serious injury, and Rance agreed.
"It was a ridiculous act, especially with the way society is going with the one-punch hits," he said.
"For so long we've stood as role models and for me to be doing an act like that and to be seen as condoning those stupid acts that can really hurt people, that's why I'm really frustrated.
"I'd like to think I've got good values and that act goes against my moral fibre and the morals I stand for."
Rance said he sent Watts a text message the following day and told the Demons forward it was "nothing personal and it was a really dumb, stupid act".
He said he hoped there was no bad blood between the pair and Watts had accepted his apology.
The 26-year-old put his hand up to speak on Tuesday and said he had been keen to "get on the front foot" and not let the issue fester, saying, "I really want to get that message across that it really isn't me".
For the next two weeks he plans to have an educational role with the Tigers' young players, who remain capable of beating both the Power and the Hawks.
"I don't have any fears that just because I'm missing that we won't be able to get the win in the next two games," Rance said.
"We'll keep battling on … we've got complete faith in the direction we're going."
