Alex Rance’s looming free agency could burn Richmond, writes Alastair Lynch Alastair Lynch
The Courier-Mail
April 26, 2015 THE Brisbane Lions’ interest in Richmond’s All Australian defender Alex Rance is perfectly understandable.
As is the frustration the Tigers must feel to see a bloke they have invested eight years in, developing into one of the game’s best key position players, able to potentially walk out the door.
Rance is classified as an unrestricted free agent, having given eight years of service to the club and not being in the top 25 per cent of earners at Punt Road.
As an unrestricted free agent, the Lions – or the Dockers from his home state of WA – can come along with a big cash offer without Richmond having the right to match it and retain his services.
Basing free agency on whether a player is in the top nine earners can be misleading.
While it is not the case with Rance, a club’s stage of list development often means contracts for big-name players are front-ended for salary cap balancing reasons.
James Frawley was on such a contract and therefore, in the final year of his deal, not in the top 25 per cent at Melbourne. So as an unrestricted free agent, when chased aggressively by Hawthorn, the Demons did not have the automatic option to match the offer.
Frawley duly walked, from one of the weakest teams in the comp to land in the backline of the best.
If the salary of a player is taken into account, it must be averaged over the term of the contract to help protect the bottom clubs.
Let’s make another thing clear – free agency is not about equalisation.
It is a very different conversation, and is something the players asked for after accepting what is essentially a restraint of trade with the draft and salary cap.
As a trade off, players want, and deserve, a way to get to the club of their choice at the end of their career.
This issue will be on agenda for the next collective bargaining agreement, when the players’ association will seek to reduce free agency years.
Regardless, it is a huge challenge for battling clubs to attract free agents. To make someone see your club as a destination of choice, especially when it is not your home state nor in a premiership window.
For the Lions, coach Justin Leppitsch will be the key.
Leppa worked closely with Rance in his role as a defensive coach at Richmond.
As one of the great centre half-backs of modern era, Leppa has helped Rance grow into one of the AFL’s elite defenders.
Putting aside Friday night, when imposing Melbourne youngster Jesse Hogan actually outbodied him a few times, Rance is rarely beaten in a one-on-one contest.
His game has gone to a new level in the past two years.
To seal the deal, Leppitsch must show him the Lions’ blueprint for success.
He must show that the foundations of the rebuild are in place on and off field, and to show Rance he can greatly assist the re-emergence of the club as a force.
The blueprint must also have success at the end – it’s difficult to attract a player of such quality for money alone, particularly when he has spent his career at a rebuilding Richmond with still no ultimate success in sight.
As for the here and now, Leppitsch would obviously be very frustrated at where his Lions are at.
They have, potentially, an elite midfield but it is not resembling that at minute.
The exciting overlap run and scoring potency has thus far been missing.
We know patience is needed with the key position guys, and there’s been bad luck with injuries to key players Pearce Hanley, Tom Rockliff and Daniel Merrett.
But to be any show against the West Coast today, the Lions cannot let the Eagles have the same amount of space and quality inside-50 entries as they allowed Richmond last week.
The Tigers had a staggering 23 inside-50 marks and you simply can’t just blame the defence when so much quality ball is getting in there.
The Eagles boast potent forwards that will tear apart a young defence unless there’s a dramatic turnaround in the pressure applied in the middle.
As a player, Leppa was fiercely competitive with a unique sense of humour – a sense of humour no doubt being tested at the moment.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/alex-rances-looming-free-agency-could-burn-richmond-writes-alastair-lynch/story-e6frf3e3-1227321035490
