Toby Nankervis has been confirmed as Richmond’s captain for the 2025 AFL season, following the completion of the Club’s annual leadership process.
Nankervis stood out to his teammates and the broader football department, Club and Board, for a fourth consecutive year, having initially been appointed co-captain along with Dylan Grimes in 2022.
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The 30-year-old took on the reins as Richmond’s sole captain for the first time in 2024 and had an excellent individual season, winning the Maurie Fleming Medal as third in the Club’s best and fairest.
Nankervis was commended throughout the process for his team-first approach, training standards and clear, precise messaging.
The experienced ruckman also leads by example as one of the most combative players in the league. His uncompromising approach saw him ranked No. 1 at Richmond for tackles, clearances and contested possessions in 2024.
Nankervis will be joined in the Club’s 2025 leadership group by Nathan Broad, Tim Taranto, Tom Lynch and Jayden Short.
Broad’s depth of leadership experience at the Club is extensive and he has again been backed in by his teammates to continue.
The consistent defender had a career-best fourth place finish in last year’s Jack Dyer Medal and is renowned for his excellent training standards and reliability. Broad, 31, is also a great connector among teammates and is a popular figure around the group.
Taranto joins Richmond’s leadership group for the first time, following an excellent two seasons to start his Richmond career.
The 27-year-old has rarely played a bad game among his 38 matches for the Tigers and has continually lifted his leadership qualities across his time at the Club, such is his desire to drive the group forward.
Short and Lynch continue in leadership positions again in 2025, recognition for their standing within the group.
Lynch, 32, is a former AFL club-captain that has been admired and respected by teammates since arriving at Richmond at the end of 2018.
Despite being sidelined for large portions of the past two years he has remained a vocal and attentive leader among the group that takes a hands-on approach to aiding the development of young players.
Short, who is the longest-serving Richmond player among the leadership group, having been drafted in the 2014 Rookie Draft, is a driver of energy for all players.
He has been a consistent performer across 175 games for the Club and a continually outstanding role-model for his teammates in the way he prepares to play.
Rounding out the model for 2025 is Dion Prestia and Nick Vlastuin, both experienced club leaders who will take on mentoring roles, given the important influence they have both on and off the field.
Richmond 2025 AFL Leadership Group:
Toby Nankervis (captain)
Tim Taranto
Tom Lynch
Nathan Broad
Jayden Short
