Alex RANCE

2017 Digest:   Missed JLT opener with a hamstring but was imperious against the Power. Clearly the best defender in the game – possibly of the modern era.

2017 NAB Cup:  

2017 Season

1	Carl	Didn't have a touch in first term. Did well but Weitering kicked three on him.	6
2	Coll	Good duel with Moore, who he found slippery, but still a strong contributor.	6
3	WCE	Great game from the big man. Mostly on Darling all game and won battle, then played loose in the last. 75% disposal efficiency	8
4	Bris	Spent most of the game shutting down Hipwood and marshalling the defence.	7
5	Melb	Had hands full at times early, but was then a dominant figure in back half with his intercept marking and reading of the play.	7
6	Adel	We know he’s the best defender in the game but he needs to stop the oppositions dominant forward first and then rebound second.	4
7	WB	In good touch with early interceptions. Right on top of his game.	7
8	Frem	If Tigers didn’t have him then wouldn’t have been in a position to launch a final-term comeback. Stout all afternoon.	8
9	GWS	Dominant figure in back half all night until Giants finally found a way to bypass him.	9
10	Ess	Took Hooker/Daniher and did the business from a defensive point of view. Attacked when game allowed.	7
11	NM	Beat Brown hands down and while offensively not as effective as he has can be but he did his job.	7
12		Bye.
13	Syd	Super battle with Franklin. Kept Swans at bay in second half with some mighty efforts. Needs to get diving out of his game though.	9
14	Carl	Sat behind the play as a goalkeeper to keep Blues in check. Had trouble with Curnow, but again among Tigers best.	7
15	Port	Outplayed in the first half but rebounded in the second half to be one of the three best players on the ground.	7
16	StK	Started on Riewoldt, but even he could not stop the avalanche. Undisciplined early on.	4
17	Bris	Conceded a few goals when he went to impact the contest and didn’t make it. Had better afternoons.	5
18	GWS	Had a variety of opponents including Johnson but was still able to find a way to get in the way of the Giants all day.	7
19	GCS	Matched up on Lynch, who did boot three goals. Cut off plenty of Suns attacks and laid six tackles.	6
20	Haw	Duryea tried to stop him but that was like trying to win the pole vault with a chop stick…no chance.	7
21	Geel	It rarely happens, but he lowered his colours and Taylor got hold of him. Lifted somewhat in the third term but it wasn’t his day.	3
22	Frem	Quality defensive performance and then pushed forward for a goal.	7
23	StK	Beat Bruce and won plenty of the ball to boot. Played another steady game all afternoon.	7
QF	Geel	Thrashed Taylor and was steadfast in defence as a pillar on the win. Got in the way all night.	8
PF	GWS	Did what he does best down back and at times GWS played into his hands.	7
GF	Adel	Star full back took Jenkins and gave him a dead-set bath. Patrolled the back 50 like a true Tiger all afternoon.	7

2016 Season

1	Carl	Won a lot of ball in back half as usual. Leg issue in third term, but came back on.	7
2	Coll	Cloke gave as good as he got in an intriguing duel. Didn’t have things all his own way.	5
3	Adel	Rare poor day down back. Had Betts but then shifted to Jenkins.	4
4	WCE	Sensational under enormous pressure in defence.	7
5	Melb	Among the best with a fine effort on Hogan. Kept him goalless and worked to rebound when he could.	7
6		Suspended.
7		Suspended.
8	Syd	Had big task on Franklin and had colours lowered. Immense late though when it mattered.	5
9	Frem	Stood up in defence yet again. Wins his contests.	6
10	Ess	Took Daniher and for most part had him covered. Peeled off man to be a thorn in Bombers’ side.	6
11	NM	Yet again the lone hand in defence turning back North tide with interceptions.	8
12	GCS	Had job on Lynch and hands full, but read play well to take key intercepts.	6
14	Bris	Gave Schache too much leg-rope early but then controlled the back half.	6
15	Port	Best defender in the game, beats opponents one and one, and then rebounds.	8
16	WB	Battled Redpath and kept him to two goals. Not at his damaging best.	5
17	Ess	Kept Daniher goalless until final term but didn’t provide as much drive as we are accustomed to.	6
18	Haw	Plugged away in the back half but in the end weight of ball against hurt him.	6
19	GWS	Easily Richmond’s best. Comfortably beat Cameron and seven of his nine marks were intercepts.	8
20	Coll	Huge game. Longer game went the more influence he exerted from down back.	8
21	Geel	Had Hawkins well covered and got off him to be an intercept option.	8
22	StK	Had McCartin until he went off then played a sweeper role. Handy without starring.	6
23	Syd	Lowered colours when directly opposed to Franklin. Five of his nine marks were intercepts.	5

2015 Season

1	Carl	Strong game ranging across the back line and read play well.	7
2	WB	Held Boyd to just four touches and had 28 himself. The best full back in the game.	9
3	Bris	Stats don’t reflect contribution.	6
4	Melb	A four-gamer gave him and media a reality check. Valiant but beaten.	5
5	Geel	Walker worried him early then had the better of Hawkins after half time.	7
6	NM	Spent most of the day playing on Brown then thrown onto ball late.	5
7	Coll	Started in midfield but quickly returned to defence and was a key.	8
8	Port	Took Schulz out of the game.	7
9	Ess	Marshalled Richmond’s back half and crucial in many one-on-one contests.	7
10	Frem	Successfully kept Pavlich to a minimal contribution.	8
12	WCE	On Kennedy and did a strong job.	7
13	Syd	Franklin had his measure early but had massive second half to help turn game.	7
14	GWS	Great effort on Cameron. Two contested marks late in game were superb.	8
15	Carl	Impassable at half back and had Henderson’s measure.	8
16	StK	Happy to play purely defensive role on Bruce.	6
17	Frem	Shadowed Pavlich and although the Docker booted three, had an impact.	6
18	Haw	Spare down back early before picking up Schoenmakers.	7
19	Adel	Well beaten by Walker.	4
20	GCS	Gave Dixon (who was on one leg for second half) a bath. Rebounded well.	8
21	Coll	Controlled game from the back half and monstered Cloke all afternoon.	8
22	Ess	Hooker kicked three but his run and rebound ability was a highlight.	7
23	NM	Stayed deep on either Petrie or Brown and kept both under a close watch.	8
EF	NM	Stood up in one-on-ones and provided rebound to try to get Tigers going.	7

2014 Season

1	GCS	A rare off night in defence. Caught out of position a few times and burnt on scoreboard.	3
2		Foot.
3		Foot.
4		Foot.
5		Foot.
6		Foot.
7	Geel	Loose in defence at times and won plenty of footy in the first half. Quiet later.	5
9	Melb	Allowed Pedersen far too much breathing room and was made to pay.	4
10	GWS	Ran off Patton to continually link up with play coming out of defence.	7
11	Ess	Still makes the brain-fade mistakes that get fans riled. Competed well.	4
12	NM	Kept Black quiet which was his No. 1 assignment. Close to best defender.	6
13	Frem	Did a good job on Mayne and among the side’s best. Decision making needs work.	7
14	Syd	Worked hard on Franklin early and did as much as humanly possible to stop him.	6
15	StK	Played well on Riewoldt and used initiative although Saints champ got on top mid game.	6
16	Bris	Did a fine job on Merrett who could only manage two marks.	8
17	Port	Had Schulz measure for much of the day and provided good rebound with no howlers.	7
18	WCE	Battled Kennedy and able to keep him from getting dangerous.	6
19	GWS	Patton’s height troubled him but kept working to negate his scoreboard impact.	6
20	Ess	Took Carlisle and after conceding early goal he got right on top. Key win for team.	7
21	Adel	Great tussle with Walker, and won the heavyweight battle on points.	7
22	StK	Held his own with Riewoldt and did as much as anyone could on the champ.	5
23	Syd	Matched up with Tippett and Goodes at various times, he shone.	8
EF	Port	Schulz made his life hell but not great to be a defender given ball coming in so fast	4
SF		–
PF		–
GF		–

2013 Season

1	Carl	Had Casboult covered but troubled by Hampson at times.	6
2	StK	Battled Riewoldt in key duel. Found going tough but kept on plugging away.	4
3	WB	Took Jones and was beaten on one on a few times.	5
4	Coll	Bad day opposed to Cloke, who took 14 marks and kicked seven goals.	2
5	Frem	Went to Mayne after Bradley got subbed out. Solid but still makes the odd bad blue.	5
6	Geel	Battled Podsiadly in a great battle. Kept him goalless so did his job.	5
7	Port	Great dual with Schulz despite conceding three goals.	6
8	Melb	Went to Dawes and kept him to one goal. Still makes the odd clanger.	5
9	Ess	Made mistakes with ball in hand but a solid contributor.	6
10	WCE	Troubled by Kennedy early but then got on top in a great job for the side.	7
12	Adel	Rotated through Jenkins and helped keep the Crows at bay.	6
13	WB	Matched up on Stringer and found the youngster tough to shift. Rebounded well.	6
14	StK	Started on Koschitzke and then Riewoldt, fought on well.	6
15	NM	Had colours lowered by Black who proved a bit quick and evasive.	4
16	GCS	Made the odd poor decision but gave 100% and kept May out of the game.	6
17	Frem	Mopped up loose balls down back and provided good drive –16 marks a highlight.	9
18	Syd	Well beaten by White.	4
19	Haw	After Franklin kicked first goal he gave him an absolute bath. Huge.	9
20	Bris	Rarely beaten when the ball was there to be won.	5
21	Carl	Spoiled well but Henderson got hold of him early.	6
22	GWS	Relegated Cameron to a mere spectator in defence.	8
23	Ess	Did a decent job on Hurley until the Bomber got two late goals.	6
EF	Carl	Took Waite and had him covered until second half when it went pear-shaped.	5
SF
PF
GF

2012 Season

1	Carl	Started on Waite and kept it tight all night.	7
2	Coll	On Cloke and worked extremely hard. Held his own.	6
3	Melb	Held Clark to two goals and that was his man task.	6
4	Geel	Battled Hawkins and was reasonable in keeping him to a goal.	5
5	WCE	Competed well but why does he call for ball in back half? Kicking poor.	5
6	Port	Key position defender shut down his opponent Daniel Stewart.	7
7	Syd	Excellent. Soundly beat Reid, White and Everitt and won 27 touches.	8
8	Ess	Towelled up by Ryder early. Battled on.	4
9	Haw	Grand on Franklin who kicked just one goal (when game was done).	9
10	StK	Spirited job on Riewoldt but beaten overall.	5
11	Frem	Horror day. Continually found bad position against Pavlich who kicked six.	3
12	GWS	Battled Patton for some of the day and did reasonably well.	6
14	Adel	Stuck to his guns against Taylor Walker despite conceding five goals.	4
15	Melb	Had task on Rivers and by game’s end emerged victorious in that battle.	3
16	GCS	OK for the most part down back but had the odd “moment”.	5
17	NM	Huge for three quarters on Petrie. Unfortunately the game went for four.	6
18	Carl	Usual mix of earnest effort and unfortunate clangers.	5
19	Bris	Had his hands full with Brown but, to his credit, stuck to the task.	5
20	WB	Defended well when he had to and from that perspective did his job.	6
21	Frem	Worked hard on Pavlich. Kept him to three goals.	5
22	Ess	On Crameri at start. No great impact.	5
23	Port	Schulz caused his some serious problems and beaten on the day.	4