AFL superstar Alex Rance will return to the game a year after he announced his sudden departure from the league at the peak of his career.
Rance – a devout Jehovah’s Witness – announced he was retiring in December 2019 to focus on his family and faith.
Just eight days later, it emerged he had split from his wife of seven years Georgia.
The premiership-winning Richmond Tigers phenom though is now set to make a return to footy, strapping on the boots for Perth Football League C2-Grade club Swan Valley.
Footy superstar Alex Rance shocked the sporting world when he announced his sudden departure from the AFL at the peak of his career (pictured with former partner Georgia)
The 31-year-old left the sport at the peak of his career, when he was widely considered to be the game’s best defender
He’s locked in to play rounds four and five of the competition on May 1 and 8, The Herald Sun reported, more than two years after he played his final game in the AFL.
Swan Valley is hopeful Rance’s return will draw in big crowds and be a major boost for the local competition which is celebrating its 100th season in 2021.
Rance’s cousin David Ellard is a player-coach with the club and a good friend of the former premiership winner.
The 31-year-old left the sport at the peak of his career, when he was widely considered to be the game’s best defender.
Rumours at the time swirled about the end of his marriage and that his devout faith as a Jehovah’s Witness was involved in his decision to give up footy because the religion’s elders generally frown upon the sport’s competitive nature and physical contact.
He sold the family home in Brighton in Melbourne’s upmarket south-east in September 2019 just three months before the news broke.
Alex Rance (pictured with ex-wife Georgia) retired from football in December, 2019, after 200 games to spend more time with his family and focus on his faith as a Jehovah’s witness
Rance was also set to become this year’s Bachelor before negotiations broke down and former Australian Survivor star Locky Gilbert eventually landed the leading role, as reported by the So Dramatic! podcast.
He had missed most of the 2019 season after rupturing his ACL in round one and was forced to watch on from the sidelines as the Tigers claimed a premiership.
But having completed the gruelling rehab, it made his retirement all the more mysterious.
Just two days before his announcement, teammate Dylan Grimes told afl.com.au Rance was in great shape.
The five-time All-Australian made his debut in the AFL back in 2009 and won the flag with Richmond in 2017.
He had long spoken of his battle to reconcile the conflicting values of a Jehovah’s Witness and the elite sport he played for a living.
In 2018, he admitted he almost quit the sport at the age of 25 – five years before walking away from a $2million contract with the Tigers.
‘I just wanted to spend more time with my family, do more associated with my faith. I felt like being in the spotlight would draw attention to me,’ he told 20Four’s Stack Report at the time.
The 12-year veteran added his physical presence on the field was naturally at odds with his belief system.
Jehovah’s Witnesses do play sport professionally – as demonstrated by tennis champions Venus and Serena Williams.
But Rance’s dilemma was that body contact and the elite competitiveness which comes with footy is not supported by the religion’s elders.
The five-time All-Australian made his debut in the AFL back in 2009 and went on to win a premiership with Richmond in 2017
‘When I want to talk to people about love and care – which are central parts of being a Jehovah’s Witness – it’s conflicting because [on the field] I’m beating someone up,’ Rance said.
‘I’m trying to beat him, and put myself over him. But when I talk about the leadership side of things, I show that empathy, care and humility… It’s not an easy road to walk when you have this conflict inside you.’
Rance’s comeback is set to be made easier through his cousin and close friend, David Ellard.
The former Carlton player recently took on the role as the team’s playing-coach.
Rance won Richmond’s best and fairest in 2015 and was a crucial part of their drought breaking 2017 Grand Final win – the Tigers’ first premiership in 37 years