'Does not look good': Concern for Alex Rance after scary injury
Alex Rance’s milestone game has turned into a nightmare after the Richmond veteran suffered a potentially serious injury in the AFL season opener.
It was a cruel blow for Rance, who should have been celebrating his 200-game in the AFL.
However, the Tigers defender had to be helped from the ground after landing awkwardly from a contested high ball in the third quarter of the clash with Carlton at the MCG.
Rance was pessimistic about his prognosis immediately after Thursday night’s 14.13 (97) to 9.10 (64) win for the Tigers.
“I will find out the severity – the initial signs don’t look too good,” Rance told Channel Seven after the final siren.
The Tigers veteran was in agony when he left the field in the third quarter of his 200th match.
The star defender was in good spirits when he emerged from the changerooms in the last quarter and limped to the bench, but it looks like Rance is a long-term casualty.
The Tigers star was clutching at his right knee, with initial concerns he may have suffered an ACL injury.
Fans were praying on social media that he hadn’t done any serious damage.
Alex Rance has been helped from the ground and is receiving treatment in the rooms.#AFLBluesTigers pic.twitter.com/lZPElxc6W2
— AFL (@AFL) March 21, 2019
Alex Rance helped from the field in the hands of the medicos after landing awkwardly in an aerial duel.
🐯68 🔵56 #AFLBluesTigers #gotiges
— Richmond FC 🐯 (@Richmond_FC) March 21, 2019
Alex Rance goes down awkwardly and he's helped off in the hands on trainers.
Nobody likes seeing that. Hoping for the best. 🤞#AFLBluesTigers #BoundByBlue
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) March 21, 2019
Rance has gone straight down to the rooms.#AFLBluesTigers
— AFL Nation (@AFLNation) March 21, 2019
Does not look good for rance…hope for the best as he is here at to watch. #AFLBluesTigers
— Wayne Griffin (@grifology70) March 21, 2019
Rance holding his knee… not looking good #AFLBluesTigers
— Clint W (@Clintwits) March 21, 2019
Crossing codes, but big concern for ACL injury for Richmond’s Alex Rance. Non contact and can see knee collapse in on landing, even a hint of tibial shift on last camera angle. Fingers crossed for him #AFLBluesTigers
pic.twitter.com/V9ds8Ex039— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) March 21, 2019
Impossible to overstate the impact a Rance ACL injury would have on Richmond. Their entire structure is set up around him rebounding. Could argue it would change the complexion of the entire season. #AFLBluesTigers
— Rudi (@RudiEdsall) March 21, 2019
Hoping nothing serious for Rance after he went straight to the rooms, there’s never a good time for a potentially serious injury like that but Round 1 would be especially cruel #AFLBluesTigers
— Jesse Robertson (@OhMundoTestify) March 21, 2019
That Rance injury, depending on the severity, could be the biggest story in Richmond's season and it's only Round 1 #AFLBluesTigers
— Brayden May (@braydenmaysport) March 21, 2019
Leading by only two goals at three-quarter time, the Tigers went to their celebrated extra gear to secure the win.
The Tigers ended the game as they started, out-scoring the Blues by four goals to one in the last term after their five-goal blitz in the first.
But there was plenty to like about the young Blues, who pushed the premiership fancies hard in front of 85,016 fans before their challenge ran out of steam.
In his first game since last year’s knee surgery, star Tigers recruit Tom Lynch kicked three goals.
Captain Trent Cotchin was best afield with 31 possessions, while new Blues co-captain Patrick Cripps also impressed and teammate Harry McKay was dangerous all night in attack.
The start of the game was a reversal of Carlton’s storming five goals to nil sequence a year ago.
This time, the Tigers piled on five goals to a behind in the first term and another goal early in the second for a game-high lead of 40 points.
Lynch had a dream start to his time at Richmond, marking and kicking a goal two minutes into the match and adding another later in the first term.
The match looked as good as over, even when former Collingwood player Alex Fasolo finally kicked the Blues’ first goal seven minutes into the second term.
But with Cripps growing in influence at the stoppages and McKay a persistent threat, the Blues steadied.
They kicked four goals to two in the second term and only trailed by 22 points at halftime.
Two goals to the Tigers in the third term took the margin back out to 26, but the young Blues had a sniff and they counter-attacked again.
Former captain Marc Murphy snapped a goal in his 250th match and Nic Newman added another.
Then Rance landed awkwardly in a marking contest and was in agony as two trainers helped him from the ground.
Symbolically, Carlton managed to stop Tigers star Dustin Martin twice with crunching tackles, giving him no chance for his signature “don’t argue” fend-off.
With AAP
