Despite his even-handed approach, Rance admits he took time to reflect on his football journey when he travelled to Africa during the off-season.

He thought of sliding doors moments in his career, such as when he wondered whether a football career was for him, and how the rollercoaster ride he experienced early on had gradually flattened out as the Tigers found a formula for success.

His role in that ascent to the summit cannot be denied now.

As well as being a premiership player, he has been All-Australian in the past four seasons (and was named captain in 2017), finished top two in the past three best-and-fairest counts and won the Francis Bourke award, which is voted by the players, four times between 2013-2016 before teammate Dylan Grimes took the title last season.

Now as he heads into 2018, Rance keeps his goals simple: he wants to make other players better.

"We have got really great, consistent high standards we keep among these four walls," Rance said.

As Rance says, there will be "no big razzle, dazzle moves" in 2018.

Pressure and process and unity will still be the key words driving the Tigers forward.

The only discernible changes between now and this time last year are found inside the Tigers' meeting room, with a shot of the MCG on grand final day, with Richmond eight goals in front, 31:19 minutes into the last quarter covering the back wall.

Another shot, on the side wall, includes every player on the list celebrating the flag inside the rooms as Nick Vlastuin holds the premiership cup aloft.

But inside the metaphoric "four walls", Rance's mind is on other matters.

"[It's about] the process to which we achieve a result rather than the result itself," Rance said.

"We need to focus on the really small things that make up the grand plan of what we do."

What Richmond does now is way different to what they once did.

But Rance knows better than anyone in football nothing is guaranteed.

"I guess the proof will be in the pudding when we play," Rance said.