Richmond star Alex Rance is the modern-day Glenn ArcherWayne Carey
The Age
4 June 2016In the early '90s, I remember going down to Arden St to watch the Kangaroos' under-19 side and that's when I saw this kid called Glenn Archer play for the first time.
What struck me about him, apart from how hard he was at the ball, was his marking ability. For a mid-sized bloke, he was very strong overhead.
The club wasn't sure what kind of player he'd become - whether he'd be a forward or a defender - or whether he even wanted to commit to being a full-time AFL footballer. It was Denis Pagan, the under-19's coach at that time, who helped convince Arch to give footy a real crack. Early in Arch's career – he made his senior debut in 1992 - I was constantly remarking on his toughness, but it took the footy world a little bit of time to appreciate his intensity and attack on the footy.
Because of that pure aggression, and will to win, whether in the air or on the ground, Arch was able to play on all types of opponents, small and big.
He played on the great Matthew Richardson who stood 197cms, giving away 15cms. He also regularly lined up on Chris Grant (193cms) and smaller forwards such as Brad Johnson (182cms). Denis was also happy to play him on forward pockets when required. That allowed Glenn to peel off and support his fellow defenders, something he did naturally. He had this great ability to negate his opponent but then help out a teammate. All the good defenders, the ones who read the game really well, do this.
And because of his great courage, he had no problems standing in the hole at centre half-back, trying to cut off the supply to leading full-forwards such as Tony Lockett, Gary Ablett and Jason Dunstall, always a daunting prospect.
Arch also had the ability to push forward and kick vital goals when the side needed it; he was a very reliable kick.
For all those qualities, I still think his attack and ferocity at the footy is unequalled in all the time I've been involved in the game – which is almost 30 years now. Not one opponent would have enjoyed the sight of Arch coming their way before the opening bounce; they knew they'd be made to earn every kick for the next two hours.
I got to thinking about Glenn this week because there's a guy playing in Hobart tonight who reminds me a lot of him, and that's Richmond's Alex Rance. I actually think Alex is the modern-day Archer. Obviously Rance is taller and heavier – he's listed as being 194cms and 96kgs, while the media guide has Arch at 182cms and 93kgs – but that's about the only obvious difference.
Just like Archer, Rance is able to turn 30-70 situations against him into a win because of his talent, sheer competitiveness and hatred of being beaten. The Richmond man's desperation and courage in the air bring back memories of Arch, and what I witnessed at North week after week for 200-plus games.
Like Archer, Rance is at all times the consummate team player. His primary focus is to beat his opponent but the number of times he covers for his fellow-defenders by reading the play is amazing. Whether courageously going back into a pack, or leaving his man to run 30 metres and meet an oncoming opponent, Rance always puts team first.
Most of the time the Tiger takes the opposition's best forward: whether it's a tall like Lance Franklin or a small like Eddie Betts. He's played on both of those guys this year.
And you have to remember that key forwards in the modern game are much better protected than they were 20 years ago: there's no chopping of the arms, no holding allowed off the ball and the third umpire watches everything like a hawk. Also, players generally use the footy much better, so I think forwards can take advantage of those things and score a lot of easier goals.
I rate Rance as Richmond's most important player. He's just about the complete package. He's also got a bit of mongrel in him: the forearm to the back of Jack Watts' head a few weeks ago – although very much out of character – had a bit of Arch about it, too.
Comparing his stats with Glenn's, he gets more of the footy, takes more uncontested marks and lays more tackles. The contested marks were roughly even but Arch kicked a lot more goals having spent more time forward. And, of course, my old teammate had an intimidation factor that can't be measured.
Alex is a dual All-Australian and reigning Jack Dyer Medallist and, at 26, is just entering the peak of his career. Glenn, in his 311 games, was a three-time All-Australian, dual premiership winner and winner of the Norm Smith Medal in the 1996 Grand Final.
As a footballer, I think Rance is more polished and perhaps more consistent than Archer – he only plays two or three bad games a year. He's as courageous as the former North man, too.
So who would I choose if I was coaching the ultimate fantasy team? Well, both if I could. Purely as a footballer, though, I'm taking Rance; but if I'm going into the trenches, I'd want Arch by my side.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/richmond-star-alex-rance-is-the-modernday-glenn-archer-says-kangaroos-great-wayne-carey-20160602-gpa2fw.html
