Toby Nankervis becomes dual premiership Tiger

The ex-Sydney recruit was forced to seek a new home when coach John Longmire put Nankervis to the end of the queue by the 2016 grand final behind Sam Naismith after injuries to rucks Callum Sinclair and Kurt Tippett.

The next season Nankervis had arrived at Punt Road and landed an AFL premiership.

Counting 728 days on, the 25-year-old became a dual Richmond premiership hero.

The elation was so much that Nankervis was the first teammate to reach out and hug captain Trent Cotchin when the final siren sounded.

Unlike the 2017 triumph when he went largely solo bar some pinch-hitting from the undersized Shaun Grigg, Nankervis played his role at the bounce and around the ground perfectly in tandem with 22-gamer Ivan Soldo.

The pair had 42 hitouts - 22 of which to Nankervis - to nullify Shane Mumford, who had 15 of the Giants' 18 taps.

The 199cm Tasmanian had earned six kicks, 11 handballs - including eight contested possessions - and five marks after playing just 58 cent of game time on Saturday.

Deep into the final term, a number of the greats of the game were quick to sing the praises of the George Town native during the telecast.

"It proves once again that if you've got good big men, you will always be big," Wayne Carey had remarked of Nankervis as he jogged to the bench for one final rest.

Nankervis had to fight his way back into the side after sustaining a late groin injury.

A starring role for the club's VFL semi-final victory, including the winning goal, was just enough to convince coach Damien Hardwick to be name Nankervis in the Tigers' first final in Brisbane.

ELSEWHERE IN SPORT

Tasmania's other top Tiger was Jack Riewoldt, who set up the 89-point victory from one end of the goals.

The former Clarence teen was the key focal point up forward with five goals from his six shots, bettering his two goals back in 2017.

Riewoldt finished the win with 11 kicks, two handballs, eight marks, three of which were contested while four were inside the forward arc.

The day did not start well after a mark was not paid early on that drew the ire of the considerable Tigers' faithful.

Just moments later, the 631-goal champion scored a goal assist when he landed a long kick on the chest of a surging Dustin Martin for Richmond's opener.

The second term opened up not only the grand final favourites but Riewoldt after snapping a set shot following a free kick over a slight nudge from opponent Phil Davis.

Riewoldt kicked two more in five minutes on either side of 50 metres near half-time.

He got the edge on Davis during multiple leads, taking a ball high on his chest and then flying for a strong grab.

It was at the Punt Road end once again that Riewoldt owned the forward line.

The 30-year-old superstar slotted a fourth and the side's 12th goal, roving off a spilled mark in the goal square.

Riewoldt iced the premiership from a fourth long set shot with four seconds left.

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