Toby Nankervis

Early life and junior football

Toby Nankervis was born to parents Sharon and Kingsley in August 1994. He spent his early years in the South-West Melbourne suburb of Point Cook before the family moved to the rural north-eastern Tasmanian town of George Town.

He played football above his age group, playing senior matches for the North Launceston Football Club in the Tasmanian Football League as a junior.

Nankervis was draft eligible in 2012, but was passed over in both the national and rookie drafts.

In 2013 Nankervis represented Tasmania in the National Under 18 Championships. He was particularly dominant in a match against the Northern Territory where he recorded 22 disposals, nine marks and kicked five goals. He was named the competition's best ruck, winning All-Australian selection as well as being a joint winner of the Harrison Medal for Division 2's best and fairest player.

In addition to football, Nankervis was also a promising junior cricketer. He was once a member of the Tasmanian Cricket Academy and played for his state through Under-17s level.

Sydney (2014-2016)

Nankervis was drafted by Sydney with the club's third pick and the 35th selection overall in the 2013 AFL National draft.

Nankervis did not play senior football for the Swans in his first season, instead playing 18 matches with the club's reserves side in the NEAFL. He was on the brink of selection on a number of times, being named as a senior emergency in eight matches that season.

He made his debut in round 14 2015, in a match against Port Adelaide at the Sydney Cricket Ground He kicked a goal on debut, to go along with ten disposals and six hit outs. He finished the season having played five matches at AFL level.

Nankervis was considered a fourth option ruckman in 2016, clearly behind teammates Kurt Tippett, Callum Sinclair and Sam Naismith. He played sporadically across the year, playing a total of seven matches. He played in the club's semi-final match against Adelaide, recording a then-career-high 15 disposals along with 16 hit-outs. Whilst he did not ultimately play, Nankervis was named as an emergency in the Swans' 2016 Grand Final team. Though his impact at senior level was minimal, he was named in the 2016 NEAFL Team of the Year for his performances in the club's reserve side. He played 13 matches for the reserves side, kicking 19 goals in the process. In a match against Eastlake he kicked six goals and took 11 marks.

Richmond (2017–present)

At the conclusion of the 2016 season, Nankervis sought a contract away from Sydney, looking for greater opportunities to play at the AFL level. On 19 October 2016 he was traded to Richmond in exchange for a third round draft selection.

In his first pre-season at the club, Nankervis was lauded for his aggresive playing style, with Richmond forward Sam Lloyd claiming Nankervis had "a bit of mongrel in him." The club's coaching staff also heaped praise upon him, with Blake Caracella noting his willingness to "hit bodies and follow up and chase" while Andrew McQualter claimed Nankervis had "nearly put a couple of our players in hospital with his tackles." On the back of his impressive pre-season training efforts and a serious back injury to fellow ruck Shaun Hampson, Nankervis spent the JLT Community Series playing as the club's primary ruckman. He solidified his standing thanks to three consecutive strong performances and forced his way into position as the club's leading ruck.

Nankervis made his Richmond debut in the 2017 season opening match, a victory over Carlton at the MCG. He recorded career bests for hit-outs (27) and goals (2) in the match. Nankervis followed this up with another impressive game in round 2's win over Collingwood. Though Nankervis was beaten in the ruck by Brodie Grundy (45-18 hit-outs), it was his work around the ground that impressed coach Damien Hardwick. He recorded career highs for disposals (21), clearances (an equal team-high seven), inside-50s (6), rebound-50s (3) and contested possessions (14). It was the most contested possessions by a Richmond ruckman since Brad Ottens recorded 18 in round 17, 2003. Nankervis set a Richmond club record in round 5 when he posted 56 hitouts in a win over Melbourne on Anzac Day eve. After five rounds Richmond remained unbeaten, with Nankervis' former club Sydney yet to win a match in season 2017. At the time he was ranked third in the league for Rucks under Champion Data's ranking points system which aggregates various statistical categories. In round 6, Nankervis was reported for an off-the-ball elbow on Adelaide's David Mackay. He was subsequently offered (and accepted) a one-match suspension by the AFL's Match Review Panel. He returned in the club's round 8 loss to Fremantle.

In May Nankervis was labelled "a revelation" by The Age journalist Rohan Connolly, for his presence in a revitalised Richmond midfield. In the same article he was rated the sixth best trade pick-up of the off-season. Jon Ralph of the Herald Sun went so far as to label Nankervis the number one recruit in the league that year.

In round 10's Dreamtime at the 'G match, Nankervis would kick a running goal from the 50 metre arc to seal the game in the final two minutes. After ten rounds Nankervis ranked 20th in the league for hit-outs (26.4), but among rucks was sixth in clearances (2.9), and fifth for both tackles (3.1) and disposals (13.8). He played his old club Sydney in round 13 and equaled a career high nine tackles in the match. When young ruck Ivan Soldo was added to the side in round 17, Nankervis saw a change in role, moved from a midfield exclusive role to one stationed mostly out of the Richmond forward line. An eye-injury to full forward Jack Riewoldt caused him to miss round 19 and saw Nankervis was asked to fill his role, kicking a career high three goals in the process.

Statistics