Teammates in tears over Alex Rance's devastating injury

Richmond’s dream injury run among their top AFL stars is officially over, with scans on Friday confirming Alex Rance requires a knee reconstruction.

Rance landed awkwardly in the third quarter of Thursday night’s season-opening win over Carlton and was in agony as he limped from the MCG.

The top defender was in good spirits when he emerged from the change-rooms in the last quarter, but scans on Friday have confirmed a ruptured ACL.

It means this season is the first time since 2014 that one of their top four players – Rance, captain Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin and Jack Riewoldt – has not played at least 20 games in a season.

Rance played 18 games in 2014.

Coach Damien Hardwick said some teammates were in tears on Thursday night as the severity of Rance’s injury became apparent.

But he pointed to West Coast, who lost ruckman Nic Naitanui to a knee reconstruction, Andrew Gaff to suspension and Brad Sheppard (hamstring) on the way to last year’s premiership.

“Last year, West Coast – Naitanui goes down,” Hardwick said.

“These things can be overcome.”

He nominated young defender Ryan Garthwaite, who played two senior games last season, as a teammate who could take Rance’s spot in the side.

Hardwick did not hide their bitter disappointment at the likely bad news.

“Your heart sinks because you’ve been through a lot with this guy, been through a journey,” he said.

“Then to have it taken away from you (in) round one, it is disappointing.

“We walk away with four points, but we certainly walk away disappointed – we’ve lost a warrior.”

‘I have guys in tears’

While Hardwick said Richmond would deal with the setback, he added players had taken the news hard.

“It’s not to say they don’t feel pain – I have guys in tears, knowing they’ve possibly lost a comrade for 12 months,” he said.

Richmond kicked away in the last term to beat Carlton by 33 points and star recruit Tom Lynch kicked three goals, but Hardwick said there was plenty of room for improvement.

“I thought it was clunky,” Hardwick said of their performance.

“We left a lot of goals on the table. Our composure across the forward half wasn’t what it normally is.

“But in fairness, you walk away with a 33-point win, you’re always happy in round one because it’s a tough round.”