AFL 2022: Alex Rance steps down from Essendon development coaching role
Alex Rance has moved on from his key role at the Bombers. Will the club look to replace him? Plus, the club has spoken out about Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti.
Essendon has no plans to replace part-time development coach Alex Rance after he moved on to concentrate on his business commitments.
The Dons confirmed on Monday that Rance, who had been working with the Essendon key position players, had finished up his role.
Five time All Australian Rance is one of the greatest full backs of all time and had spent a day and a half on the track with the Dons talls early in the pre-season.
But changes to his business required him to be full-time, with Essendon comfortable with its battery of coaches and not planning to replace him.
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Despite sporadic rumours of Rance un-retiring himself his premiership career is over, with the athletic defender content running his school The Academy.
Essendon said on Monday it had no fears that absent forward Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti’s AFL career would walk away from football.
Despite his second break away from the club as he deals with personal issues as well as a calf injury, football boss Josh Mahoney said McDonald-Tipungwuti was determined to continue his Dons career.
“Sometimes the best thing to do is to take a break from the club and we think that’s the best option for ‘Walla’ and we look forward to him coming back and having a significant impact on our season,” he told SEN.
“Right now we’re really confident that this period of time away, he’s sorted a few things out personally.
“We know that he’s really keen to get back to playing and really keen to get back to the club, he loves coming to the club, he loves playing for the Bombers.
“At this stage, we don’t see any need to be thinking that way.”
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