[15][16] That season he played in a number of different roles including as a key position player (in both forward and defence) a rebounding half-back, and was even named on-ball for Richmond's round 5 match against Fremantle.

[20] As a result of this form and an inability to gain regular selection at the highest level, Rance made contact with a number of clubs about a possible move, including North Melbourne, Fremantle, West Coast and Hawthorn.

[20][21] Despite some interest, he chose to remain at Richmond, later admitting he grew in confidence as a result of the desire competing clubs had to attain his services.

Rance earned the praises of former Richmond fullback Darren Gaspar for his work in round 13, consistently beating Brisbane Lions forward Jonathan Brown in one-on-one contests.

[25] He was instrumental in restricting Sydney star Adam Goodes in round 21, holding him to just one goal while Rance collected 24 disposals and six marks in the Richmond win.

[8] Rance started the 2013 season poorly, giving up a career-best four goals to Western Bulldogs forward Liam Jones in the clubs' round 3 match-up.

[30][31] During the season Rance would be tasked with defensive roles on some of the league's best forwards including Travis Cloke, Josh Kennedy and Lance Franklin.

[34][35] Rance received the player-voted Francis Bourke award for the second time in three seasons for his embodiment of the club's principles of awareness, belief and discipline.

[37] At the mid-point of the season, Rance was labelled by his coach as the best "one-on-one player in the competition", before he recorded a season-high 29 disposals in the club's round 13 match with Fremantle.

[36][39] Teammate Jack Riewoldt said at the time it was "probably the best quarter of footy (he'd) ever seen someone play" while Richmond CEO later said that Rance "single-handedly won that game.

[47] In round 2, he "annihilated" young opposition forward Tom Boyd in his defensive matchup, also contributing 13 marks and 28 disposals in a loss to the Western Bulldogs that saw Rance post a career-best 156 Champion Data ranking points.

[25] In round 15 he was among the best players in a win over Carlton, notching 18 disposals in a first half in which the Herald Sun said he "looked unbeatable in one-on-on-one contests" and that also earned him the label as the "dominant figure on the ground".

[58] Though he went through a full pre-season program, a minor hamstring injury left Rance sidelined in Richmond's first match of the 2017 JLT Community Series.

[67] In round 21 Rance was comprehensively bested by Geelong defender-turned-forward Harry Taylor who kicked four goals in his side's defeat of Richmond at Kardinia Park.

[71] When he faced a rematch with Geelong and Taylor in a qualifying final, Rance had his revenge, restricting the Cat to eight disposals and a single goal in Richmond's win.

[74] In the days that followed he would receive the Jack Titus Medal as second place in the club's best and fairest count (behind Brownlow Medalist Martin) and be named at fullback in AFL Media's Team of the Finals.

[83] Rance also attracted the attention of the AFL's Match Review Officer that week, being fined $2,000 for an errant late spoil on Hawthorn's Luke Breust.

[86] In round 11 Rance attracted significant media and public criticism for a 'diving' incident during the Dreamtime at the 'G match in which he exaggerated contact in a marking contest with Essendon forward Shaun McKernan and drew a free kick as a result.

[13][101] Rance equaled a season-best with 20 disposals in the club's preliminary final match-up, a shock knock-out loss to Collingwood that brought his season to an end.

[107][108][109] Late in the third quarter of that match, Rance landed awkwardly during a marking contest and severely injured his right knee in what coach Damien Hardwick labelled a "suspected ACL (tear)".

[111][112] With a minute chance that he would recover in time to play again that season, Richmond refused to move Rance to the club's long-term injury list, effectively keeping open the option of a late-season return.

[113] By early May, teammate Dylan Grimes said Rance's recovery was progressing extraordinarily fast and that in three weeks of rehabilitation "he's shown more improvement than we've seen in some ACLs in three months.

[116][117] Within two weeks he was running straight lines at close to full speed, with coach Hardwick saying Rance was likely to press for a return to football that season and was "that far ahead of schedule, it's not funny.

"[118][119] Rance told the media in late July that a decision on whether to step up his training into lateral movement and football exercises would come following a meeting with his surgeon the following week.

[120][121] In the first week of August, Rance announced publicly he was opting to suspend his attempt to return that season, citing the risk of re-injuring the knee and the impact such an injury could have on the team mid-match and potentially in a key final.

[138] The Herald Sun reported that list manager Blair Hartley advised Richmond CEO Brendon Gale in late November that Rance would imminently retire, saying "I think he's done.

[38][47][142] By mid-2017 some media personalities began talking about Rance as one of the best defenders of all time, with Essendon great Dustin Fletcher saying "If he's not there yet he is heading in the right direction.

"[143][144] In April 2018 Richmond coach Damien Hardwick inadvertently waded into the discussion, labeling Rance "the fullback of the century" in a post-game press-conference remark.

"[145] Following his retirement in December 2019, Rance continued to earn plaudits including being named by Seven Network commentator and Hall of Fame Legend Leigh Matthews as the greatest defender of the modern era.

[44] In 2011 Rance was the victim of stalking by a man who was later sentenced to 12 months in prison for incidents also including harassment and soliciting cash while posing as a doctor.