Richmond ruckman Toby Nankervis will captain the Club for a third season in 2024, having been endorsed by the Board, his teammates and club staff.
The 29-year-old was appointed co-captain with Dylan Grimes in February 2022, a role they shared across the past two years.
Nankervis will be the Club’s sole captain for the first time in 2024, a role he said he felt privileged by.
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“Being able to lead this Club and our team is something I will never take for granted, so to be backed in to continue on as captain next year is a privilege,” he said.
“We have some great leaders at the footy club and are united in what we want to achieve going forward on the field and as a high-performance environment, so I am looking forward to the challenge ahead.”
Nankervis has made an excellent impact since being elevated into the role with a career-high Jack Dyer Medal finish in 2022, followed by strong form in 2023.
The hard-nosed big man averaged 16.7 disposals, 32.4 hitouts, and 5.4 tackles per match last year while also driving standard and helping to improve his teammates behind the scenes.
Grimes decided to step down from the captaincy to allow more energy for his own individual game and life balance.
The 32-year-old will remain a sounding board for Nankervis and other leaders within the group.
Richmond General Manager of Football Performance, Tim Livingstone, said Nankervis was a standout choice to lead the group.
“Our players and coaches respect how Toby goes about his football and leadership,” he said.
“He demands high standards, keeps his messaging precise, and always puts the team first with his attitude, which is a trait that Adem (Yze), our staff, and administration particularly admired in making this decision.
“Toby has been an excellent captain across the past two years with Dylan, and he will continue to blossom as an individual and leader with the responsibility that comes with him now being our sole skipper.”
Livingstone added praise for the outgoing Grimes.
“Dylan has been a leader at Richmond for a long period and has decided to take a step back from everything that captaining an AFL club entails,” he explained.
“His experience and guidance will continue to be a great asset for our group, and we thank him very much for his commitment and efforts across the past two years since being appointed as our co-captain.”
Richmond President John O’Rourke announced the appointment of Nankervis as sole captain at tonight’s Richmond Members’ Annual General Meeting.
The Club and the Tiger Army are striving towards reaching 100,000 members for the seventh consecutive season in 2024.
Be Strong & Bold with a Richmond membership. Visit membership.richmondfc.com.au for 2024 membership options to suit the whole family or call (03) 9426 4400 during office hours.
