Rance gets last laugh in Buddy battleHerald-Sun
15th May 2016Held to two goals and 10 touches in their only meeting last year, the strutting superstar Swan Lance Franklin had a point to prove.
A high tackle here, a fend off there, the proud Franklin meant business.
Richmond’s 2015 club champion Alex Rance was also keen to leave his mark on the contest early, flattening Franklin and conceding a free kick which handed Franklin his opening goal inside the first four minutes of the game.
By three-quarter time, the three-time Coleman Medallist had kicked five goals including one from 60 metres out in the first term, which had to be seen to be believed.
How the Tigers could have allowed the left-footer to casually run around and accept a handball like that is baffling.
Rance’s big tackle on Franklin on the wing early in the final term helped the Tigers push forward for their ninth goal, narrowing the margin to six points.
The Tigers hit the front and with Franklin looking threatening, Rance stepped up again with a big tackle on Franklin. The one-on-one contests between the pair stood at six apiece, but a goal to Dan Hannebery cut Richmond’s advantage to two points.
Kurt Tippett, whose first goal of the game came from a pass from Franklin, marked strongly and kicked a goal with seven minutes remaining to give the Swans a 10-point break and Rance’s heroic efforts against the game’s best key forward looked like they’d be in vain.
With a tick over two minutes left, Franklin kicked long towards the goalsquare. The Swans were five points in front. Could they get a sealer?
It was Rance who took the saving mark, but the Tigers struggled to get another forward entry.
Again Franklin (18 possession) pumped the ball forward, again the Tigers rebounded. This time they did go forward and Sam Lloyd kicked the winning goal after the siren.
IT was a remarkable finish, leaving Franklin to stand hands on hips in at half-back, wondering what happened.
Franklin shook hands with a few Richmond players and when he crossed paths with Rance, they hugged.
They’ll have plenty more duels to come.
The 136-game veteran Rance, who had 14 possessions, said it was the best win he’d ever been involved in, snapping Richmond’s six-game losing streak.
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