Richmond premiership star Alex Rance set for shock footy return in local Perth competition

Richmond premiership star Alex Rance is poised to make a stunning return to football and is in advanced talks with a WA team.

Warning, Perth Football League forwards.

Richmond premiership star Alex Rance is a strong chance to make a footy return in 2021.

The five-time All-Australian is in discussions with Perth Football League C2-Grade outfit Swan Valley about pulling on the boots for several matches.

It will be a massive boost for the competition, which celebrates its centenary next year.

The 31-year-old is linked with the club through cousin and close mate David Ellard, who has recently taken over as playing-coach.

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The West Australian understands the Melbourne-based Rance is likely to play enough games to qualify for finals, which is currently five.

Swan Valley will put in a request with the league for back-to-back home games for Rance in the hope of drawing massive crowds.

Ellard, who played 63 AFL matches to go with 38 in the WAFL, retired from Swan Districts at the end of last year.

The former Carlton and Swan Districts midfielder returned to his junior club, adding a wealth of experience.

Richmond premiership defender Alex Rance is a strong chance of playing with a local WA club this year. Picture: Getty Images

Fellow ex-WAFL player Mathew Aitchison has also signed in a playing/development coach role.

Ellard and Rance remain close and have long talked about playing together for the first time since their Swan Districts colts days more than a decade ago, when their super team won the 2007 premiership.

That team also had the likes of Nic Naitanui, Michael Walters, Clancee Pearce, Lewis Jetta, Neville Jetta, Jeff Garlett and Chris Yarran, thrashing Claremont by 64 points in the decider at Subiaco Oval.

Rance, one of the game’s greatest modern-day defenders, played the last of his 200 AFL games in the opening round of 2019 against Carlton, when he sustained a season-ending knee injury.

He announced his shock retirement in December that year and hasn’t played at any level since.

Originally published as Richmond premiership star Alex Rance set for shock footy return in local Perth competition