Richmond not prepared to risk Alex Rance, despite stunning progress on knee injury

Alex Rance is already sprinting, defying medical science as he pushes for a return this year, but the Tigers will take no risks, even if they would love him back to push their premiership credentials.

Richmond says it is not prepared to risk Alex Rance’s future for a short-term premiership tilt despite his astonishing ACL recovery so far.

The Tigers have left open the possibility he could return this year, with Rance completing sprints last week.

Coach Damien Hardwick conceded the star defender was recovering at warp speed.

But leading medical experts such as Dr Peter Larkins have warned that an ACL graft is at its weakest around the time Rance would be returning after 25 weeks.

Richmond football boss Neil Balme said yesterday the club had to allowed Rance to push his recovery given he was determined to play again this year.

But he said the decision would be made after consultation between the club’s surgeon and medical staff.

Richmond says it will take no risks with Alex Rance as he races the clock to return this season. Picture: Michael Klein

“The medicos will talk to his surgeon and really it will be a question of the risk if he plays as opposed to the risk of him playing next year and if there is any significant difference he won’t be playing,” Balme said.

“That’s only my opinion and we don’t want to put it out of the question because he needs to strive for something.”

Rance’s contract was last year extended to 2021, with the five-time All Australian easily able to play well into his 30s if his motivation levels stay high.

He had at one stage considered retiring before his most recent contract but with his pace and intercepting skills he could easily play on like Matthew Scarlett, who retired at 33.

Rance went down in Round 1 and while Tyson Goldsack and Dale Morris have made miracle returns from ACL ruptures neither had anything to lose if their knees buckled again given they were in the final years of their contracts.

Ando’s Shout: Alex Rance says he is pushing to make a return to football in 2019

Rance did his knee in Round 1 against Carlton. Picture: AAP

Shane Edwards told the Herald Sun after the win over St Kilda he was amazed by Rance’s recovery.

“When you watch him train you can get carried away because he looks so good. I wouldn’t be surprised if he has taken his rehab to another level and comes back but at the same time you don’t want to sacrifice an Alex Rance again, so they are big decisions.”

Jack Riewoldt told his Balls and Bumpers podcast last week the club would have to have “adult conversations” with Rance given the speed of his recovery.

Riewoldt is expected to miss one more game against Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium this weekend.

But he told Fox Footy last Friday he had ramped up his match simulation training dramatically that day and was making strong progress.

Originally published as Richmond not prepared to risk Alex Rance, despite stunning progress on knee injury