Being drafted just the beginning
By Mic Cullen
Wed 03 December, 2008
GETTING drafted is the prize that most young footy players strive for.
The fame, the glory, the money – it’s all apparently there if only you can get onto an AFL club list.
Plenty of blood, sweat and tears go into making it to the finish line and being one of the first 60 or so to cross it.
However, it’s soon after that the realisation can set in about the real situation.
It’s only the beginning.
That was the story for Alex Rance this year – touted as a top-10 pick in the 2007 draft, the Tigers were rapt to snare him at No.18, and he was thrilled to be going to an up-and-coming team that was marching up the ladder.
But then reality intruded, and Rance didn’t play an AFL game all year, despite being named as an emergency several times, although coach Terry Wallace admitted that if Rance had come to the club a couple of years earlier, he’d have played most of the season.
“It was a tough one, a few times it was really hard throughout the year,” he told richmondfc.com.au.
“It was really hard to place myself in the side.
“A few times I was an emergency, and got my hopes up, and backed up a few good games, but it was difficult, especially as our backline was so solid over the year.
“But I have learned a lot this year – the VFL is a much stronger competition than the WAFL – especially playing the finals game for Coburg, that was another step up in intensity, and that brings me one step closer to the AFL.”
One thing Rance discovered was that being an elite player wasn’t enough.
“Giving them what they want is part of the learning experience – especially at the start of the year when I had one idea of how they wanted me to play, and they had a completely opposite idea of how I should play.
“But I learned quickly – the first five or so games I was struggling a little bit, and then five to 10 I started to grab a hold of it, and from then on I really started to consolidate and become a bit more consistent throughout the season.”
And he admitted that, at times, he was getting somewhat impatient during the year.
“Yeah, I was banging on Terry’s door a few times,” he said with a laugh. “I thought that if I put my hand up and said ‘look, I’m ready, and I really want my opportunity’ that might persuade him a little bit more, along with the performances I’d put on over the weekend.
“But it was more that I needed to let my actions do the talking a little bit more, but yeah, I was definitely knocking on his door a bit.”
And although the club sees the 192cm, 88kg 19-year-old as a key defender, Rance has designs on playing further up the field.
“I’d prefer to play a more running role, but centre half-back would be nice … maybe further down the line, maybe a midfielder, or something like that.”
http://www.richmondfc.com.au/tabid/6301/Default.aspx?newsid=70577
