Former Richmond coach Terry Wallace has outlined the silver lining for Tigers fans following the retirement of Alex Rance.
Rance will not play in 2020 and has hung up the boots effective immediately, making the stunning announcement on Wednesday.
Wallace believes the five-time All-Australian exiting the salary cap will allow Richmond to keep their premiership squad together beyond 2020.
“One thing it will do is that it will guarantee that their premiership core won’t go anywhere,” he told SEN Mornings.
“There will be enough money to satisfy everyone. Brandon Ellis went (in the trade period), but you would have thought over the next 12 to 18 months that there would be a few that would be courted by other clubs.
“Well now they should have the finances to be able to deal with that now.
“Whether that means another big fish comes in at some stage, I would probably doubt that. I think it will ensure the premiership core stays together.”
Richmond has lost some depth over the last few years, including Brandon Ellis, Dan Butler, Anthony Miles, Sam Lloyd, Reece Conca, Corey Ellis and Tyson Stengle.
The likes of Bachar Houli, Jack Graham, Jayden Short, Josh Caddy and Toby Nankervis come out of contract for the Tigers in 2020.
Wallace believes Rance should go down as the best defender of the decade.
“He’s certainly got to be in the calculations (as the defender of the decade),” he said.
“There’s been some great defenders. The ones that standout to me are the ones that are offensively minded as well as being able to do a job.
“To me he is as good in that area of just being able to read the play and back himself in as nearly anyone I have seen.
“I’m a huge Matthew Scarlett fan and he’s the other one who really stands out for me, but I think Rance is the equal to anyone now.
“Alex Rance at his best, he was the All-Australian captain as a defender so I think (he was the defender of the decade).”