Stephen Silvagni says Alex Rance among the best defenders in history

THE man considered one of the greatest defenders of all time has lavished praise on Richmond star Alex Rance, saying the Tiger deserves to be rated with the best. VOTE: Who’s your no.1?

Alex Rance wrestles with Adelaide's Taylor Walker in the grand final. Picture. Phil Hillyard

STEPHEN Silvagni says Alex Rance is “in the conversation’’ as the best defender of the past 50 years.

The AFL’s Team of the Century fullback said Rance would easily slide between eras because of his ability to play the one-on-one defence of yesteryear and today’s zone football.

A giggling Silvagni acknowledged that he loved the Richmond defender.

“Blood oath I do, he’s a star mate, he’s a bloody star,’’ Silvagni said.

“He’s the best defender in the competition, no doubt about it.’’

Asked if Rance was the best defender he’d seen, Silvagni said it was almost impossible to compare players from the 1970s and 80s to today’s players.

“The eras change so much, the game is just so different, but he can play one-on-one and he can play the zoning defence, the roll-off defender,’’ Silvagni said.

“I watched Bruce Doull play, I watched Scarlett play, and Fletcher and David Dench ... how do you compare it? But he’s 100 per cent in that conversation, 100 per cent he is.

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“It’s hard to match them all up. I reckon Lance Franklin would’ve kicked another 300 goals if he played in the 70s and 80s with the 50m open.

“So how do you compare Lance Franklin with Jason Dunstall or Tony Lockett?

“I don’t like comparing, but no doubt this bloke would’ve been at the top whether you’re talking today’s footy or 20 or 30 years ago.

“There’s no doubt he would still be a star.”

Alex Rance in action during the Tigers’ grand final triumph. Picture: Mark Stewart

Rance was arguably best on ground at halftime on Saturday and, at the end, received two votes in the Norm Smith Medal voting, from the ABC’s Mark Maclure.

The All-Australian captain mainly played against Adelaide’s Andy Otten and, at times, Taylor Walker and Josh Jenkins.

His dominant performance centred on his ability to play his role and not a role dictated by the opposition.

Silvagni described Rance as “competitive, tough and hates getting beaten”.

He nominated Rance’s spoil on Walker early in the second quarter as the moment of the game.

The Crows were two goals in front when a lunging, desperate Rance got a fist to the ball a moment before Walker was to mark it.

The result was the ball was rebounded into the Tigers forward 50m, where Jack Riewoldt converted a curling snap from near the boundary line.

“That play there was bloody important,” Silvagni said. “For me that was the moment.

“They were over them at the stage, Adelaide, and if Walker marks that he has a shot at goal.

“That was the moment of the game.”