So the church would not have said to Rance 'we don't want you to play'? "No. It cannot happen," Eades said, stressing that he was not talking directly to Rance's situation but to anyone in a similar position. "If a person was making a choice and came and asked for advice it would all be Bible-based advice recognising that the person asking has developed their own faith and maybe just wants to bounce it off someone else. "In the end we would never say to someone 'so with all of that in mind you are definitely not going to do this,' that runs completely contrary to how our organisation works. "It's all personal choice, it truly is, because otherwise that would put us in some sort of God-like position to be telling him what to do. "I can't talk on behalf of him personally but the rationale is if someone is finding, whether it be football or any other form of employment, that it is getting in the way of their faith, we as a Jehovah's Witness would always put our faith and Bible principles before our employment.

"Your religion is your choice, your employment is your choice." Rance's decision was the most remarkable early retirement of a healthy, fit footballer (albeit one returning from long-term injury) that the AFL has seen. While he had come close to retiring in 2015 for religious reasons and admitted to wrestling with the compatibility of his faith and his football throughout his career, the decision when it came in December was still stunning. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video That a player could, at the peak of their professional career, voluntarily walk away from the elite level of the game and tear up a contract that would leave millions of dollars on the table is unprecedented in the AFL.

This was not a minor player. Rance was among the most gifted in the game, a six time All-Australian, a premiership defender, a player who will, even in early retirement, be regarded as possibly the best defender Richmond has ever had. He was set to return to a side that had just won a flag and stood poised – especially with his re-inclusion – to be a strong chance to win another flag. Thus the decision left many bewildered. The manner of the announcement, coming in the lead-up to Christmas via a video statement but not a press conference and without immediate gushing tributes from his teammates, only furthered the uncertainty of those who carried doubts over the truth of the reasons for the decision. When days later it emerged Rance's marriage had also broken down, the cynicism strengthened that there were other reasons behind the decision. Undoubtedly the marriage breakdown played a part in Rance's retirement decision, according to those close to him. The timing of the two decisions was not coincidental.

The Jehovah's Witnesses, Eades acknowledged, hold the view that a marriage vow is forever and that a couple wanting to separate must demonstrate they have taken all the steps they can to preserve the marriage. Many close to and around Rance believe the retirement decision was a demonstration to the church and his wife of his commitment to try to save the marriage. He was showing that he was willing to forsake his football for his faith, and so put his faith and his wife first. It is also true he wanted to spend more time doing church work – he has since been door-knocking in Melbourne's southern suburbs, spreading the church's word. Eades rejected the suggestion that it would have been preferable for Rance to continue to play and retain a high profile and so reach a bigger audience for the Jehovah's Witnesses. "You could look at it like that, but we don't," Eades said.

Loading Rance first told the club in July last year that he was again looking at retiring. Things calmed for a period as he was not playing and in some ways that made it easier to balance the competing pressures. He wrestled with his decision, having ongoing conversations with senior football and club figures and his manager as well as his church mentors. "You have never met a more conflicted person than he was in that six months," a senior Richmond person said. Some at Richmond believe he did not want to retire but felt it was the right thing to do – he still loves footy – and so also would not be surprised were he to return to the club asking about a comeback. On the day he finally told the club he was committed to retiring, he said he wanted to tell the players then have a final training session with them in the following week, when he had been due to return to main training for the first time after his injury.