Alex James Rance (born 9 October 1989) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Rance was a premiership player, five time All-Australian, a one time All-Australian captain, a one-time winner of Richmond's best-and-fairest award and is widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders of his era. For three seasons between 2017 and 2019 he also served as Richmond's AFL co vice-captain.
Early life and junior football
Rance is of strong footballing heritage, being the son of Murray Rance, a former Footscray and player and Swan Districts captain in the WAFL. Born in Perth in the latter years of his father's VFL career, Rance played junior football at the Noranda Junior Football Club in Perth's eastern suburbs. He later played for Noranda in the Western Australian Amateur Football League before again moving to the Swan Districts side in the WAFL. In 2007 Rance represented Western Australia at the Under 18 National Championships. There he won a premiership medal with the team as well as being selected as an All-Australian.
He completed high school studies at Guildford Grammar School in Perth, Western Australia.
AFL career
2008 season
Rance was drafted by with the club's second selection and the 18th overall in the 2007 AFL national draft.
He began his first season at the club by playing two levels below AFL, with the reserves side of Richmond's VFL affiliate, the Coburg Football Club. He played his first match at VFL level in mid April, before spending another month in development. When he returned in mid-May he became a regular selection, gathering 35 disposals and five tackles in a mid-June match. Though he spent some time in the lower level, he began to impress enough at VFL level that he was named an emergency for AFL games late in the season. He did not make his AFL debut that year, but did hold a spot in the VFL team through their finals series.
2009 season
Rance made his AFL debut in round 2 of the 2009 season in a loss to at Kardinia Park, recording 18 disposals and six marks in the match. Rance remained in the senior side until round 7, where he was involved in a head clash with Brisbane Lions player Troy Selwood. He suffered three small cheekbone fractures and missed three matches as a result of the incident. He returned to AFL level in round 11 and played three straight matches before missing his side's round 14 encounter with Adelaide. After one week out, Rance returned again to senior football in round 15, playing two more matches before another two week stint away from the level in rounds 17 and 18. But he would play out the last four rounds at AFL level, kicking his first career goal in round 19 and finishing the year having played 15 senior matches.
2010 season
Rance played his first AFL match of 2010 in round 3 against at the SCG. That season he played in a number of different roles including as a key position player (in both forward and defence) a rebounding half-back, and was even named on-ball for Richmond's round 5 match against . Rance drifted forward in that match however, kicking a career high three goals in an impressive display. After seven straight matches he would return to reserves football, before being recalled for one match in round 17. Despite notching a then career best 23 disposals and 11 marks, it was his only match in that spell, playing AFL matches on only two more occasions that season. He did not play in a victory that season, with the club losing all 10 matches he appeared in. To that point Rance had showed plenty of athletic talent, but far more brain fades and failed plays. As a result of this form and an inability to gain regular selection at the highest level, Rance made contact with a number of clubs about a possible move, including , , and . Despite some interest, he chose to remain at Richmond, later admitting he grew in confidence as a result of the desire competing clubs had to attain his services.