Alex Rance is not the best key defender, says Paul Roos (Sporting News)

[one-eyed]

Rance not the best key defender, says Paul Roos

Mick Stirling
SportingNews.com.au
25 August 2017

Debate has raged through the year as to whether Alex Rance is the greatest defender the game has ever seen, but premiership coach Paul Roos thinks the Tiger isn’t even the best in the league at the moment.

According to Roos, Gold Coast big man Steven May has jumped ahead of Rance in the back-half pecking order due to the greater load he carries and an ability to play on all sizes of opponents.

“Steven May is, in my view, the best defender in the competition,” Roos told Fox Footy’s League Teams.

“If I was starting a team and I was looking for a defender, I would pick May over Rance.

 “What Richmond has done this year is fix up its defensive side - May is often doing it one-out. He’s playing on mediums, he’s playing on smalls, and he’s seeing a lot of ball down there.

“It’s line ball, (but) I just think May is a hair ahead because of the fact he has to defend so often and he often defends with no help.”

Over their careers Rance leads statistically in all categories but May has averaged more disposals and marks in 2017.

However, Rance has had twice as many one-percenters this year, a category crucial to a defender and one that doesn’t stand out so much to the naked eye.

It’s also fair to say that, while Richmond’s back-half is in great shape at the moment it’s been pretty much a one-man unit over the past few years.

It will be interesting to see if the All Australian selectors agree with Roos.

http://www.sportingnews.com/au/afl/news/rance-not-the-best-key-defender-says-paul-roos-afl-richmond-steven-may-alex-tigers-suns-gold-coast/fu5y2wxwb76h1ogfb35le0egy

[lamington]

He clearly has it in for Richmond and he is also trolling for media attention.

The two are not in the same league. Rance has been the solo defender for many years on end. It has only been this year where Astbury broke out and was able to lock down defend week in week out that Rance can roam more freely. You only need to look as far as the the match against GWS or that final quarter vs Syd to see Rance in everything and doing his best to single handedly save the match off his own hands and boots

[georgies31]

Ignore him think he knows it all.

[wayne]

Go have another Man Shake Roosy.

Sheedy is spot on about him.

[lamington]

What has Sheedy said about Roos?

[big tone]

When we have defenders like Houli and BEllis in our backline Rance should have a statue made of gold of himsekf already.
Steven May... 
Surely it's a pee take

[Tiger Tragic]

LOL. May better because he beats his man. Rance beats his own man plus 3 other defenders' men. Then he attacks with aplomb which Ive never seen May do once. I reckon even Astbury would have May covered

[Eat_em_Alive]

LOL. May better because he beats his man. Rance beats his own man plus 3 other defenders' men. Then he attacks with aplomb which Ive never seen May do once. I reckon even Astbury would have May covered

Yes and yes

[Owl]

Roos can't help himself, he has some poorly disguised, petty and spiteful dislike for Richmond.

[Chuck17]

Roos can't help himself, he has some poorly disguised, petty and spiteful dislike for Richmond.

Reminds me of Claw

[dwaino]

 

[wayne]

What has Sheedy said about Roos?

“Paul Roos is the person who won one premiership by a kick in his whole career,” 

but you only had two hours of happiness (the 2005 flag) in your whole football career.”

[lamington]

 

[Slipper]

X2

Good 'ol Sheeds

[tony_montana]

this flog is right up there with Lyon