Following on from the news of Alex Rance joining Essendon as a development coach, AFL Media’s Mitch Cleary has suggested that Essendon should look to put him on their playing list, even if he doesn’t play.
The move would be similar to what Port Adelaide did with Tyson Goldsack at the beginning of 2021. Goldsack is employed as a coach but also occupies a spot on the club’s playing list as the Power found a loophole in their soft cap spending limit.
Basically, Port Adelaide freed up spending in their soft cap by paying Goldsack as a player even though he is a coach.
Cleary believes Essendon should explore this option while suggesting Rance could be a fairly handy on-field acquisition if required.
“I think Essendon, they should put him on their playing list because clubs are looking at this avenue more and more,” Cleary told AFL Trade Radio.
“I think the Tyson Goldsack scenario at Port Adelaide in 2021 is what we’ll see more from clubs because the soft cap is so tight.
"The footy department spending is around $6-6.5 million and it used to be at $9.5 million and the salary cap has only been cut by 9%.
“I think there’s room, Essendon have a stack of room in their salary cap. Why not put Alex Rance on the playing list? He’s a ‘break glass in case of emergency’ scenario in defence.
“If there was a way to put him on the playing list and pay him as a coach but as a player, that would be a scenario that I reckon they should look at.”
Richmond champion Rance is locked in for a development coaching role at the Bombers in 2022.