Richmond co-captain Toby Nankervis has received a three-match suspension from the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday.

The Tribunal deliberated for just over 40 minutes before handing down its decision.

Richmond, represented by Sam Tovey, contended for a three-match sanction, while the AFL, represented by Sally Flynn, pushed for a four-match ban. 

Nankervis pleaded guilty for the rough conduct charge on Sydney's Jake Lloyd in the second quarter of the Tigers' 13-point Round 17 win.

The ruckman said he took "full responsibility" for the incident, which was classified as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.

"As a leader of the football club, I’m accountable and need to be better than that," Nankervis told the Tribunal.

The AFL said there was considerable force in Nankervis’ late bump, and that whether or not some form of contact was inevitable, the way Nankervis chose to bump clearly breached his duty of care. 

The AFL said the sanction would’ve been higher, if it was not for Nankervis' conduct after the game, speaking to Lloyd to apologise, and his evidence before the Tribunal, in which he expressed genuine remorse.

Nankervis will now miss games against West Coast, Hawthorn and Melbourne and be unavailable until Round 21.