TIGER RANCE RETIRES
IT IS surprising yet also entirely appropriate that champion Richmond defender Alex Rance retired from the AFL in the same unique way that he played the game at an elite level for more than 10 years.
Yesterday’s sudden announcement came from left field, confused some fans, dismayed others, left most wanting more and was made entirely on his own terms. The fivetime All-Australian and devout Jehovah’s Witness told his teammates at Punt Road he would retire to focus on his faith and his family.
Rance grappled with getting the balance between faith, family and football right over the course of his 200-game career, nearly retiring in 2015. Having started preparations for his 13th season, the game-changing defender finally decided the demands of the AFL were starting to hurt those other important areas of his life.
“It was really tough because I love those boys, I care about them a lot, but it’s now time for me to look after my own happiness and growth,” Rance said of breaking the news to his teammates.
“I guess I didn’t really deal with the underlying things in 2015 that were causing me that uncertainty.
“I treated footy like a Band-Aid or a drug. Just keep at it, invest more time and more energy and it did make me feel better but still underneath I felt uneasy.
“I was divided. I was split between two worlds but I don’t regret a thing because I’ve learnt so much across the journey and met so many amazing people. But I wish I’d have been more honest with myself to understand what makes me happy and what I need.
“The main focus of my life [now] is my spiritual growth ... to just devote more time and energy to that.”
The 30-year-old departs with two years left on his contract. The timing of his decision means he will remain on the club’s list in 2020, which technically leaves the door slightly ajar for a change of heart in future.
Rance was a key player in the Tigers’ breakthrough premiership in 2017, but missed this year’s grand final romp over GWS after rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament in Round 1. He had been on track to return to senior action in Round 1, 2020, before deciding to retire.
“I wanted to make sure that I got through my knee rehab ... I would have trained almost full training today,” he said. “I didn’t want [my retirement] to be because of my knee or because my body was saying ‘enough’. I wanted to make a clear choice about what was important to me and make a priority in my life.”