One-Eyed Richmond Forum
Football => Richmond Rant => Topic started by: one-eyed on May 23, 2017, 10:03:24 PM
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Is Alex Rance the best full-back of all-time?
JON RALPH,
Herald Sun
24 May 2017
THE SURPRISE wasn’t that Richmond lost another nailbiter this weekend — that’s just what the Tigers do.
It was that the big bloke in the number 18 jumper didn’t get Richmond out of jail again.
Alex Rance had done all he could to haul Richmond over the line as the game’s defining moment arrived.
Yet instead of Rance’s booming spoil it was GWS tall Phil Davis whose punch over the back of the pack eventually found Jeremy Cameron.
So yet against Richmond’s torturous road through this AFL season overshadowed a truly great game from the game’s best full-back.
Barring injury he will be an All-Australian for the fourth year in a row in a career that is becoming truly phenomenal.
He is clearly the best defender in the game but is he the best full-back ever?
This year, like many before, he has showcased his entire arsenal of defensive abilities.
He ranks first in spoils for defenders, second in intercept marks (to Jake Lever, often zoning off inferior opponents), has the most intercept possessions and the second-best kick rating.
It is the full package, enough for Essendon great Dustin Fletcher to believe he is up there as the best defender of all-time.
“I have got no doubt. He is well and truly in the conversation. He is that player you just love watching and he has an impact on games,’’ he told the Herald Sun on Tuesday.
“If he’s not there yet he is heading in the right direction to be in the top couple.
“From what he has already done so far, he is a great. Watching him he has got that closing speed to go with his man and spoil.
“But he is usually the first to follow up as well. When I show vision of kids that I coach it’s not just his first effort spoiling, it’s that he is the first one back on the ball to make an impact on the play.
“A lot of the time you see full-backs who want to punch it and get it out of the area and get ready to do it again.”
Fletcher knows a bit about longevity as a 400-gamer but says Rance’s period of excellence qualifies him as a true great.
It’s not a term to throw about lightly.
Steven Silvagni is full-back in the Team of the Century, with North Melbourne’s David Dench and Carlton’s Geoff Southby in the conversation.
Collingwood’s Jack Regan was known as the “Prince of Full-backs”, while Matthew Scarlett’s six All-Australian trophies speak for themselves.
Richmond great Kevin Bartlett, a long-time Hall of Fame selector, says Rance only needs longevity to be up with those players.
“He is an extraordinary full-back,” Bartlett said. “I haven’t seen better at Richmond. He has this marvellous ability to beat his man and then beat everyone else’s man too.
“He has this ability to defend and attack virtually at the same time, because he never waits for his man to initiate the move.
“He has only played 150 games but if you think about Silvagni and Dench and Southby and Scarlett, he is on a course to be alongside those players.”
Only a handful of current players can claim to be the best ever in their position.
Corey Enright retired last year as perhaps the greatest small defender and Lance Franklin is at least in the conversation as the best mobile tall forward.
Rance might be gone by the time his contract expires in 2019, so amid the wailing and desolation Richmond fans should enjoy him while they can.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/expert-opinion/jon-ralph/alex-rance-is-the-best-defender-in-the-game-right-now-but-is-he-the-best-fullback-of-alltime/news-story/c2b48a7c336d0a9bcc38821d179e1363
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Rance might be gone by the time his contract expires in 2019
:huh :huh :huh
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Is Alex Rance the best full-back of all-time?
Oh Wow thats interesting, some tiger supporters havent even acknowledged he is the best full back running around now
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He's not even close to Scotty Turner or Paul Bullus.
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He definitely gets enough practice
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He is very good, just lacks a bit of mongrel to be the best ever.
:cheers
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I think if he snags another couple of AAs he would be right in the heart of discussion. Although Scarlett had 6x AAs he never had to face a 100+ point demolition like GWS last season. The fact Rance generates so much of our attack is a testament to his game
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He is very good, just lacks a bit of mongrel to be the best ever.
:cheers
Jack Watts would probably disagree....
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He is very good, just lacks a bit of mongrel to be the best ever.
:cheers
Jack Watts would probably disagree....
With what?
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He is very good, just lacks a bit of mongrel to be the best ever.
:cheers
Jack Watts would probably disagree....
With what?
Maybe a wack in the back of the head? :shh
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Someone who actually follows Richmond and watches our matches wouldn't have needed to ask.... :shh
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He is very good, just lacks a bit of mongrel to be the best ever.
:cheers
Jack Watts would probably disagree....
With what?
He can't remember.
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Someone who actually follows Richmond and watches our matches would'nt have needed to ask.... :shh
ouch :lol
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Big call but i am happy to say he is the best player i have seen in my time :cheers
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Big call but i am happy to say he is the best player i have seen in my time :cheers
Magical Maurice was the best I have seen but he is a very different player. Rance is definitely the best defender I've ever seen play for our club easily.
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Big call but i am happy to say he is the best player i have seen in my time :cheers
Magical Maurice was the best I have seen but he is a very different player. Rance is definitely the best defender I've ever seen play for our club easily.
Agree Doc.
Maurice Rioli is the best I've seen.
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Is he any better than Gasper circa 2000 -01
He was fantastic ( before he did his knee )
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Big call but i am happy to say he is the best player i have seen in my time :cheers
Magical Maurice was the best I have seen but he is a very different player. Rance is definitely the best defender I've ever seen play for our club easily.
Agree Doc.
Maurice Rioli is the best I've seen.
Loved Rioli but loved Raines more. Gutted when he left and was never the same player again sadly.
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Easily best backman I've seen in my time.
Makes Matthew Scarlett look like Dave Astbury.
I just hope he ends up with the premierships Scarlett has.
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Easily best backman I've seen in my time.
Makes Matthew Scarlett look like Dave Astbury.
I just hope he ends up with the premierships Scarlett has.
Well said :clapping
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I was there the day big jason kicked 17 goals on scotty turner.....hmmm scotty turner
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Is he any better than Gasper circa 2000 -01
He was fantastic ( before he did his knee )
Rance makes Gaspar look like a curly haired Astbury.
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Is he any better than Gasper circa 2000 -01
He was fantastic ( before he did his knee )
You're kidding right?
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Rance is the best Backman I have seen. Back in the day others could cheat by pushing, scragging, chopping arms etc. None of these techniques are available to Rance and yet he still dominates.
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Easily best backman I've seen in my time.
Makes Matthew Scarlett look like Dave Astbury.
I just hope he ends up with the premierships Scarlett has.
totally agree with this ^
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Rance is the best Backman I have seen. Back in the day others could cheat by pushing, scragging, chopping arms etc. None of these techniques are available to Rance and yet he still dominates.
That's because he invariably marks the pill
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Rance is the best Backman I have seen. Back in the day others could cheat by pushing, scragging, chopping arms etc. None of these techniques are available to Rance and yet he still dominates.
100% correct.
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Is he any better than Gasper circa 2000 -01
He was fantastic ( before he did his knee )
Only a lightyear ahead but hey its all opinion.
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Scarlet had a great back line around him. Rance is a lone hand. He easily fits into our team of the century all our backs are pretty average for TOTC membership except sheedy. All our greats are midfield and forward.
I rate him a season or two away from best back man ever at richmond.
I also rate Francis Bourke our best followed by Hungry.
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Not too sure he's the best I've ever seen (how do you split them!) but he's the only one that's made my pants dirty so I'll give him that
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Is he any better than Gasper circa 2000 -01
He was fantastic ( before he did his knee )
Gaspars kicking makes Grigg look like Matty Knights
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Once in a lifetime player.
Along with dusty cotch and jack.
No other club has a better top 4.
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Is he any better than Gasper circa 2000 -01
He was fantastic ( before he did his knee )
Gaspars kicking makes Grigg look like Matty Knights
You might find that Gas outside 50 having a shot at goal was fairly accurate
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Once in a lifetime player.
Along with dusty cotch and jack.
No other club has a better top 4.
Agree
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Is he any better than Gasper circa 2000 -01
He was fantastic ( before he did his knee )
Gaspars kicking makes Grigg look like Matty Knights
You might find that Gas outside 50 having a shot at goal was fairly accurate
Ok ill keep an eye out for that on Saturday
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Loved Gas
His kicking was unusual back it actually was straight as
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Is he any better than Gasper circa 2000 -01
He was fantastic ( before he did his knee )
Gaspars kicking makes Grigg look like Matty Knights
You might find that Gas outside 50 having a shot at goal was fairly accurate
Ok ill keep an eye out for that on Saturday
Are you going to the game ? 😱😱😱
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Loved Gas
His kicking was unusual back it actually was straight as
Straight to the opposition.
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Ch 7 news tonight said Rance was on Daniher for 47% of the game last night and during that time Daniher was goal-less and only had 3 touches.
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Ch 7 news tonight said Rance was on Daniher for 47% of the game last night and during that time Daniher was goal-less and only had 3 touches.
Joey should have brought his rubber ducky. He copped a bath.
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Ch 7 news tonight said Rance was on Daniher for 47% of the game last night and during that time Daniher was goal-less and only had 3 touches.
Great stat, but doesn't just reflect the job he did on Daniher. Reflects how many times Rance left Daniher to provide assistance to his fellow defenders and didn't get caught out. I heard the commentators mention a number of times how well Astbury has been playing this season. Rance is a big reason for this. His ability to read the play is almost psychic.
Forget two Dusty's Dimma, get another Rance!
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Getting May from Gold Coast would be a start... :shh
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Getting May from Gold Coast would be a start... :shh
Good month to start talks then....
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Ch 7 news tonight said Rance was on Daniher for 47% of the game last night and during that time Daniher was goal-less and only had 3 touches.
Not to mention 2 holding the ball and outmarked him but wasn't paid...
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Getting May from Gold Coast would be a start... :shh
:clapping
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Ch 7 news tonight said Rance was on Daniher for 47% of the game last night and during that time Daniher was goal-less and only had 3 touches.
Not to mention 2 holding the ball and outmarked him but wasn't paid...
Gotta say man in front, technically was rances. But there's no way that's a mark, without Daniher there to hold the ball in position for rance he wouldn't have gotten his hands firmly on it, good call by the ump.
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Comment from the HERALD-esSendUN:
Robert
1 hour ago
How could Rance get votes, not once did he take Daniher, at one point he was on fantasia. If he actually was as great as he's made out to be and took the best forward each week, Richmond may be a better side. When the best opposition forward averages 3 goals a week against them, he clearly isn't doing his job
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Obviously doesn't watch Rance play. Sure we may leak an extra 1-2 goals by playing Astbury on the best forward but what Rance does is save an extra 5 by playing on spuds and keeping them quiet as well as saving his teammates asses time and again.
Wonder what he thought of Hurleys game? Their best defender but he didn't seem to take Jack very often :shh
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Rance goes from beer to champagne
richmondfc.com.au
1 June 2017
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick agrees with the growing sentiment echoing throughout the football world that star Tiger backman Alex Rance now ranks as one of the game’s all-time great key defenders.
“He’s certainly up there,” Hardwick said.
“In my time (in AFL football), I wouldn’t have seen many better one-on-one defenders. And then he has the ability to use the ball and start counter-attacks.
“He’s a three-time All-Australian and still only 27.
“He’s playing some really good footy and his best footy’s probably still in front of him . . .
“We’re very lucky to have him, and in such good form as well.”
Hardwick admitted his opinion of Rance’s football talent had changed quite markedly over the years.
“I often joke to him, my first year (as coach) I was prepared to trade him for a six-pack of Coronas at one stage,” Hardwick said.
“But he’s been an incredible player for us.
“He’s worked really hard . . . Justin Leppitsch, who’s back now (at the Club), did a power of work with him with regards his balance and his footwork.
“He’s been a good player for us for a long period of time and hopefully that continues for a long period of time also.”
http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2017-06-01/rance-goes-from-beer-to-champagne
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Rance is an absolute superstar.
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Yes he is ...
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2-3 more years of this and he will be
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People all talk about Dusty winning the Brownlow but Rance is the star of this team now.
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People all talk about Dusty winning the Brownlow but Rance is the star of this team now.
:bow almost the best player i have seen. Ablett senior was unbelievable but this guy is the complete player.
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People all talk about Dusty winning the Brownlow but Rance is the star of this team now.
Your boy Cotchin is also playing quality football
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I never really saw the likes of Silvagni, and some people think Fletcher and Scarlett were better than Rance.
I don't agree. Scarlett was a great defender in a team that had one of the best midfields of the last generation, and good support around him in Enright, Longergan, Mackie, Harley etc.
Rance has been a juggernaut in a poor team with only Chaplin, Grimes (who I rate) and Astbury to back him up.
So from my own memories, which is mostly from the 2000's onwards, I think Rance is the best I've seen.
Michael Hurley LOL
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Rance also plays in an era where defenders can't get away even half the stuff that Silvagni, Fletcher in his prime and to a lesser extent, Scarlett could.... :shh
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Rance also plays in an era where defenders can't get away even half the stuff that Silvagni, Fletcher in his prime and to a lesser extent, Scarlett could.... :shh
Re: Blasphemy?
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Yes he is ...
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'HE'S ALWAYS IN THE CONTEST'
RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick says Alex Rance is up there with the best defenders he has seen in more than two decades of involvement in the game.
Rance was best afield for the Tigers as he held Sydney star Lance Franklin to just one goal on Saturday in a sterling display.
“I don’t think I’ve seen a better one-on-one player in my time in footy to be honest,” Hardwick said on Fox Footy’s On the Couch last night.
“The way he goes about the game, he’s always in the contest and even when he’s not in the contest, he gets to the contest. He’s had a very good year and I think the game he played on the weekend was one of the best I’ve seen from him.”
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/afl-daily-live-rolling-footy-news-from-around-australia/news-story/6f456a6256fe7d54b642e1b19a01a391
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Rance is No.1 for spoils, 3rd best for intercept marks and has played the 3rd most minutes in the AFL this season so far.
Spoils
115: Alex Rance (Rich)
102: Daniel Talia (Adel)
92: Tom Jonas (PA)
Intercept marks
44: Jeremy Howe (Coll)
40: Jeremy McGovern (WC)
38: Alex Rance (Rich)
Minutes Played
1418: Adam Tomlinson (GWS)
1417: Tom Lynch (GC)
1416: Alex Rance (Rich)
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-06-20/the-stats-files-fireworks-season-delivers-again
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When was the last time an entire forward line went to so much effort to stop one key defender, including a hard tag? Astbury and Grimes were great to step up in the first half but the way Rance fought through it in the second was pretty remarkable.
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I have never heard of a key defender being tagged. It's probably happened but can anyone remember it before?
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6. Alex Rance can do anything, including beating a tag
Not so long ago, tagging was a dying art. But in 2017, the reincarnation of the lost skill has extended to giving forwards shut-down roles on key defenders. Yes, a full-back getting tagged. Ridiculous, I know, but such is the influence of Richmond's All Australian defender Alex Rance that Jackson Trengove was instructed to harass him at every opportunity. The pair engaged in a fiery battle at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday night. The tactic worked a treat during the first half as Rance struggled to get involved, but the wheel turned after the break. Rance was brilliant in the last quarter as the Tigers stormed home for a 13-point victory. Opposition teams will continue to try different things to keep Rance locked on his direct opponent, and prevent him from sagging off and taking intercept marks. - Lee Gaskin
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-07-02/nine-things-we-learned-from-round-15
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Rance's effort was incredible. The sledging and treatment he got in the first half was unbelievable. To rise above it shows what a true champion he is.
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Couldn't believe the Port guys verballing Rance. One thing I have learnt the hard way is not to denigrate a champion as they will make you look silly.
Rance did make them look second rate in the last half.
Has to be the best backman I have seen and I am a huge Jimmy Jess fan.
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He's better than Jess, although big Jim was hampered by injuries later in his career. The only Key Defender I can think is comparable over 50 years was St Francis
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Who cares. He's very good.