Former Western Bulldogs ruckman Luke Darcy believes Richmond defender Alex Rance is the best full-back the game has ever seen.
Rance continued his strong start to the season against the Dogs last Saturday night, and finished with 16 disposals and 403m gained, which shows just how damaging he can be with the ball as well.
Another impressive showing from Rance prompted Darcy to make the call, saying the 27-year-old has even surpassed two of the best defenders of the modern era.
“Matthew Scarlett was an unbelievable player, I saw the great Stephen Silvagni play, (but) he’s taken it to a level beyond what they were able to do,” Darcy told 7Mate’s Talking Footy on Monday night.
“The Bulldogs spent almost 80 per cent of their night trying to work out a way to stop the full-back Alex Rance from dominating the game. He’s just an extraordinary player. No one has ever been that influential as a full-back in the game.
“If I had to pick a defender now as the best player I’ve seen play, Alex Rance is the best defender I’ve ever seen play the game.”
North Melbourne champion Wayne Carey was also on the Talking Footy panel on Monday, and said Rance should be the highest paid player in the game.
Although, in the defence of Silvagni and Scarlett, Carey did admit the quality of Rance's opponents don't compare to the key forwards the former Carlton and Geelong champions had to face week in and week out.
