‘I’d be having a crack’: Why Alex Rance could return to footy — but for a bitter Richmond rival

It only takes one small nugget to send footy into a speculative frenzy.

And this particular nugget, that Richmond champion Alex Rance could potentially consider a comeback from retirement — but for a different club — has caught the attention of the Footy Classified crew.

Tigers assistant Justin Leppitsch recently suggested on the Sacked podcast that a change of scenery could potentially appeal to the five-time All Australian defender, who was in 2010 linked with a move to Hawthorn before his career blew up.

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And where else looms as a better fit for Rance than Richmond’s inner-Melbourne rivals than Collingwood?

“I’d be having a crack (if I was Collingwood), if there was any chance,” Kane Cornes said on Footy Classified.

“If I was Collingwood, particularly if they lost Darcy Moore, do they know go hard after Alex Rance to fill that role?

“I think he fits into a club that’s in that window, a big Victorian club but I think the chances are small. You have to ask the question.”

Essendon great Matthew Lloyd added: “He’s the body type and type of player I think could come back. He’s still so lean, so fit.

“I think you’d be crazy not to call him once or twice a year as a list boss.”

Rance, who retired after a 2019 season he spent on the sidelines with a serious knee injury, rejected the idea he’d entertain a comeback earlier this year when he likened returning to footy with “an alcoholic working at Dan Murphy’s”.

It would certainly be an explosive move, but stranger things in footy have happened.