The individual accolades have come thick and fast for Alex Rance over the past few years . . . four All-Australian blazers, All-Australian captaincy, a Jack Dyer Medal, plus universal acclaim as the best key defender in the competition, and one of the greatest of the modern football era.

For Rance, however, all those awards, honours and tributes are merely a pleasant by-product of his on-field deeds.

It’s not what motivates him when he steps out to do battle in the No. 18 guernsey that he has worn with such pride throughout 175 games for Richmond.

Rance’s football focus clearly is team-driven, way ahead of any personal gains.

“I’ve always said over the past two or three years I want to be a leader of leaders . . . that element of bringing others into the game,” Rance said.

“I still know that I’ve got to sharpen my own axe as well.

“So that area of reading the game, strong one-on-one and sticking to my strengths, is something that I need to keep sharp.

“But the main focus for me is making others better.”