RICHMOND is on the verge of fielding its eighth ruck combination for the year in its qualifying final against Brisbane, and it's a pairing which hasn't been seen in the AFL since Round 21, 2017. 

Toby Nankervis and Ivan Soldo are rarely a package deal.

Usually, one plays as the team's main ruckman while the other in the VFL or injured. They have played together on just six occasions.

Soldo has stamped his authority on the side after coming in to replace the injured Nankervis (adductor) in round nine.

He has been supported by one of Mabior Chol or Noah Balta over that time, while even the raw but highly promising Callum Coleman-Jones got a run during Round 10 when Soldo was suspended.

Nankervis has had a difficult season, missing 11 weeks mid-year, playing three VFL games before breaking through to return against Carlton.

He pulled up sore, missed another two rounds but was the hero in the VFL over the weekend, finishing with 33 hitouts, 22 disposals and the winning goal, paving the way for a potential AFL return. 

Tiger rucks in 2019

'Nank or bust' no more 

It's a far cry from the start of the season, when the prevailing wisdom saw Nankervis as the player Richmond could least afford to lose.

After 18 months of playing Nankervis and midfielder Shaun Grigg in the ruck, the introduction of the 6-6-6 rule and the dispiriting preliminary final loss to Collingwood in 2018 meant the Tigers' days of one recognised ruckman appeared over.
 

There was no obvious solution. 

Former Category B rookie Soldo was considered off the pace, while Coleman-Jones was just 19 at the start of the season. 

Chol and Balta had spent most of 2018 in key-position posts in the VFL, with Soldo filling the ruck role.

But, as they have done for most of their injury-hit season, the Tigers were forced to adapt.

The 'Nando' effect

If Richmond opt for both Nankervis and Soldo (or, 'Nando'), the former is most likely to play as a key forward.

Nankervis uses his body well in contested marking situations, while Soldo's extra five centimetres helps him to be a more effective tap ruckman. 

In the six games the pair have played together, two came when Jack Riewoldt was sidelined with an eye injury, with Nankervis playing as a key forward. 

But it's a different Richmond attack these days, with an additional tall in Tom Lynch.

There's a risk adding Nankervis to the forward line in place of the more athletic Balta or Chol. The Tigers' game is heavily based around smaller forward-midfielders who can force turnovers, so adding a slower player to the mix could backfire. 

Despite Soldo and Balta forming a strong combination in their four matches together, including round 23's efforts against Lions Stefan Martin and Oscar McInerney, Richmond coach Damien Hardwick is keen to bring back Nankervis. 

"Toby's built for finals. He's physical, he's tough, he's hard. We're very fortunate this year that we are playing the two rucks, so we can do the ruck by committee and he can have lesser game time," Hardwick said two weeks ago.

FINALS Visit the 2019 Finals Hub for all the details on Richmond's qualifying final against Brisbane

And on Monday, the coach was equally effusive.

"We're probably going to go down the two-ruck path, so [Nankervis will] play as first or second ruck and only play [around 70 per cent game time] for our footy club. That'll give him every opportunity to build on from there.

"I think Ivan's been terrific. He had a slow first quarter last week, but the back end of his last three quarters was outstanding. He's just improved every week.

"From where he's come from, about four or five years ago, basically walking off the street to try out (as a Category B rookie), he's been incredible. He's got better and better every game, he's still learning, but we're happy with what he's been putting out on the park."