The reasons behind Rance's early retirementPeter Ryan
The Age
19 December 2019Alex Rance's retirement came as a shock to most.
On Tuesday, one of his defensive sidekicks Dylan Grimes told reporters that the champion 30-year-old appeared stronger and fitter than he had been before he injured his knee in his 200th game.
But by Thursday, those close to the Tiger star were getting their heads around the finality of his decision rather than the fact he had made the call with two years remaining on a contract and was just months away from what promised to be an exciting return to play.
Immediately after the post-season break, the Tigers sensed Rance had returned with real purpose to attack 2020, his pleasure in his teammates' premiership success at the end of Richmond's triumphant 2019 one of the lasting memories of the season.
However in recent weeks, after the national draft and trade period, the club became aware that the questions Rance's always active mind posed about how he wanted to devote his time were getting louder.
His family, his faith, his work with the academy he began in 2016 were all drawing him closer, with football struggling to fulfil the often complex soul that is Rance.
The club worked with him, supported him, respected him and eventually accepted the decision he arrived at to leave behind the game he mastered after 12 years as a Tiger.
He will work on his school, The Academy, which offers a footy-focused schooling program, and spend time with his family and his community, but much of his future remains unplanned with his settlement with the club still to be worked through.
There is nothing sinister behind his departure. He was flying on the track and his mind was only filled with the emotion that comes when a person is faced with a life decision that requires them to head down a track few expect.
Rance is a thinker, a questioner, in some ways an idealist, and a person who always wants the best for others as evidenced by his work to develop a school he believed would better suit the needs of teenagers than other options.
The themes that shone through in his children's books Tiger's Roar and Rabbit's Hop were positive with the blurb for Rabbit's Hop giving, funnily enough, as good an insight as any into Rance and the logic behind his decision.
Jack Rabbit loved Rabbit Island. He loved his friends and family and all the little rabbits. He loved being the best at hopping and chomping and (nearly the best) at zigzagging.
But Jack Rabbit was restless.
A childlike sense of humour often emerged from that restlessness when Rance was on display, unafraid to engage and without reserve as he showed when he arrived at AFLX in a white suit on a skateboard while wearing headphones.
All this came from the big-hearted place that makes him a good person and one the club and his teammates grew to love.
Also in his bones is a fierce competitor, one who might have seemed contradictory to him at times, and helped him earn five consecutive All-Australian selections from 2014-2018, win a best and fairest in 2015 and finish runner-up in the club champion award behind Dustin Martin in Richmond's drought-breaking premiership year of 2017.
He was the premier defender of the decade and his generation.
As Richmond began their winning run towards this year's flag he was always present post-match in the rooms, one foot rested against the wall as he leaned into the background, his white teeth flashing easily whenever he recognised someone and offered them a warm hello.
Although the pre-Christmas timing of Rance's retirement is not ideal from a list management perspective, Richmond are not dwelling on that minor detail, more conscious of expressing gratitude for the role the grinning defender played in transforming the club from laughing stock to flag bearers.
In the short term, his call upsets the Richmond applecart but from a broader and more reflective perspective, it's perfect timing given the Tigers proved in 2019 they could succeed without the No.18 in their backline.
Most of the disappointment among football lovers relates to the realisation that Rance won't stalk the Tigers' defence at the MCG like an ancient warrior defending a castle.
That was a sight to behold as he populated the defensive 50 like the subject of multiplicity photography.
"Now I feel is the right time for me to put the same time and energy into other areas of my life that need it, and to prioritise the more important things to me, such as my spiritual growth, my family and friends," he said.
Rance has made a true life decision and no one can deny him that.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/the-reasons-behind-rance-s-early-retirement-20191219-p53lhg.html
