Alex Rance bites into his premiership medal after Richmond’s 2017 grand final win. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Losing an important player to retirement is always hard to take, and it’s fair to say that for Richmond, the decision taken by Alex Rance to hang up his boots will leave a gap in its ranks that could prove an almighty challenge to fill.

Having made an excellent recovery from the ACL rupture he suffered last season in the first game against Carlton, the mental and physical fortitude shown by Rance was inspirational to his teammates, especially during what was a successful yet injury-plagued season for Richmond as it lifted the premiership cup.

Despite returning to full training, Rance announced his retirement on Thursday 19 December. Fox Sports quoted the 30-year-old explaining that he felt the time was right “to prioritise the more important things, such as spiritual growth, family and friends.”

“I feel I have served my purpose in terms of my on-field performance and cultural impact, and I’m so grateful to the football club for their support and care in allowing me to do that in my own way,” Rance told reporters.

As a devout Jehovah’s Witness, Rance had always been torn between the competitive emphasis of his sport and the compassionate nature of his faith, which almost led to him to walk away from football back in 2015. Nevertheless, he continued to pursue and excel in his career, penning a lucrative contract extension in 2018 which still had two years remaining.

Although his decision has taken many by surprise, Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale was aware that the player had been considering his future during the last month. Gale admitted there had been a “sense of finality to his decision” this time. “We will miss him dearly at our football club,” he concluded.

Richmond has opted to keep Rance on its list ahead of the 2020 AFL season, with The Age reporting that Gale remains hopeful the player may yet change his mind. However, the Tigers will also have some tough decisions to make as they plan ahead, aiming to defend their title.

Given the free agency, trade and draft periods have already come and gone, the timing of Rance’s retirement hasn’t been the best of times. That said, Richmond is betting favourite at $4.25 to win the 2020 Grand Final, ahead of West Coast at $6.50 and Collingwood at $8.00, the two nearest challengers.

Dylan Grimes, David Astbury, Bachar Houli and Nick Vlastuin all filled the gap left by Rance while he was out injured last season. Other than consider signing a replacement during either the pre-season supplemental selection period or mid-season draft window, Richmond could also focus on youth options as the long-term solution, with 20-year-old Noah Balta a rising talent who could be moulded into the full-back slot vacated by Rance.

Leaving behind a legacy of 200 games with Richmond and many fond memories, along with being widely considered one of the best full-backs of his generation, it will certainly be interesting to observe how things unfold over the coming months.

The absence of Rance will certainly be felt, on and off the ground, and while the club still clings to the hope that he might yet have a change of heart, the Tigers will also need to move on and look ahead to the future. Fortunately, they have one of the strongest squads in the AFL and should be able to cope, despite losing a key ingredient towards their success of recent years.