Alex Rance’s awesome reputation as the best key defender in the AFL competition continues to rise.

Rance, an All-Australian representative for the past three years running, was outstanding in Richmond’s nine-point loss to Sydney at the MCG yesterday.

He again rose to the challenge of taking on the Swans’ star spearhead Lance Franklin, restricting him to just one goal and having a major impact all-round with 21 disposals, an equal game-high 12 intercepts, five marks and four rebound-50s.

Sydney coach John Longmire paid a big tribute to Rance in his post-match press conference.

“Rance is a really good player,” Longmire said.

“He very rarely loses one-on-one contests. 

“He’s as good as there is going around at the moment as far as a key defender.

“He can play on ’talls’, ‘smalls’, anyone . . . He’s a really good player.”