Alex Rance writes Tiger team mates into children’s book

TIGERS star-turned-author Alex Rance hopes his children’s book, featuring his famous teammates as jungle animals, encourages fearless individuality.

AFL Richmond footballer Alex Rance with his book. Picture: Ian Currie

TIGERS star-turned-author Alex Rance hopes his children’s book, featuring his famous teammates as jungle animals, encourages fearless individuality.

Rance wrote Tiger’s Roar, about self-belief, combined talents and success, after Richmond won the flag last year.

“I was reflecting and wanted to do something that lasts, and can be passed down to families and kids surrounding the player group,” Rance said. “I wanted to tell a story about different animals and characters that help a tiger get back on top.”

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Richmond footballer Alex Rance with his book. Picture: Ian Currie

Rance said a key theme in the book — “preferring to be me at the bottom of the tree rather than something I’m not at the top” — reflects his approach to life.

“It’s about being genuine, being yourself and not being afraid to fail,” he said. “I think, these days, people are scared to put their true selves out there for fear of judgment or failure.”

Rance has reputation of thinking outside the box.

“It gets me into trouble more often than not,” he said. “I say what I think and I’m not afraid to ask why.

“A lot of people found it strange that I thought about walking away from football.

“It seemed like a stupid thing to do, because I was playing good football and earning good money. But I always have to ask myself: ‘Why am I doing this?’ I don’t want to be dictated to by something if I’m not enjoying it, or it’s not fulfilling me.

“I have to be genuinely me with those decisions,” Rance said.

Rance said his wife, Georgia, and family, were crucial in his choice to keep playing.

“I created mini barriers for myself to say: ‘This is not footy time now, This is family time, Alex time, Georgia time, so (football) wasn’t affecting my whole life.”

Rance said four characters in Tiger’s Roar are based on real-life Richmond players.

He added: “I’ll leave it to the reader to figure out who they are, but you can tell by the characteristics of the animals and their special talents.

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AFL Richmond footballer Alex Rance says four characters in Tiger’s Roar are based on real-life Richmond players. Picture: Ian Currie

“The rhino is strong, the gorilla is wise, the rabbit is super energetic and happy, and the howler monkey has a big voice and makes plenty of noise.”

Rance hopes the book transcends a football theme and reads more like a message to be yourself.

“I don’t want to be a stereotype or something people think I should be,” Rance said. “The

genesis of this book is the idea of being successful through individuality.”

He added: “I never thought I would be a footballer. Looking at my life from a macro perspective, when I was a kid, I was always outside doing different things — digging a hole, making a bonfire, riding my motorbike. I loved doing different things and being constantly stimulated.

“Football, as a professional career, allows me to write a book, make funny content for online, and start a school for year 11 and 12 kids. These are all little offshoots of my personality.”

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