The prompt desire of Toby Nankervis to embrace Tigers captain Trent Cotchin mere seconds after the final siren on Saturday happened to be the premiership ruckman's first step to checking reality.
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More than 48 hours later since Richmond won its 12th VFL/AFL flag, the man that left North Launceston ahead of the start to its premiership dynasty has yet to take the next step over what actually transpired at the MCG.
"It still hasn't quite sunk in, I don't think," Nankervis told The Examiner.
"Just being able to share something so special with your teammates, your family and friends, is so amazing.
"In 2017, it was all a bit of a shock and we were just riding a big wave of emotion.
"This time we at least got the chance to soak this one in a little bit more, but it was still unbelievable."
Richmond never looked in danger by half-time to smash the GWS Giants by 89 points.
The Sydneysiders scored the opening goal before the Tigers nailed 11 in a row.
The result had been a fait accompli much earlier than the 2017 win amid keeping the Giants to the lowest score (3-7-25) in not only eight of their AFL seasons so far, but in grand finals since Collingwood's 14 points in 1960.
By the last of Richmond's 17 goals, it was also the club's greatest grand final victory that bettered the 1980 mark against Collingwood.
The historical trivia was lost on Nankervis on the day.
"When you're in the game, you kind of try not to let your mind slip too far ahead to things like that," he said.
"I went back onto the ground with some five or six minutes left and to just be able to soak that in was pretty special enough."
Richmond were struggling up to the side's midseason bye from a string of injuries.
Nankervis was also among the casualties, only turning out for nine home-and-away matches before returning in time for the finals series.
The 25-year-old had good reason to rate this season's premiership a shade better than of the groundbreaking triumph against Adelaide.
"I think every season is going to throw adversity at some stage," Nankervis said.
"I am so proud of how we came out the other side of it.
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"It's such a great group of people - not just the players, but coaches, staff, the whole footy club. I think it's such an amazing effort there from everyone involved."
The club had set a very ambitious ask just on a decade ago that had included signing up 75,000 members and winning three premierships by 2020, which the Tigers are well on their way of delivering the extraordinary feat.
Nankervis has been a huge part of that turnaround for the club that was often publicly mocked over its decline for more than three decades.
He was traded out of Sydney as its last-choice ruckman, only to take the reins at Punt Road since his arrival.
The George Town favourite, who is hoping to bring the premiership cup back to where he made his NTFA debut, went from 12 AFL games in the first three years at the Swans to 59 in the next three.
But the rival Nankervis replaced at Sydney - Shane Mumford - stood in his way.
The Tasmanian in part with Ivan Soldo clearly had the better of Mumford to finish with 17 disposals, five marks and 22 tap-outs.
Nankervis said after teaming up with Soldo for just the third time, the pair were forced to wing it in the centre.
"We really didn't go out of our way to plan, but I feel like we're building a very strong combination so far, working well together because our strengths are probably the complete opposite," he said.
"He's a bit taller, a bit more athletic while my strengths are probably around the contest and follow-up work.
"I think we complimented each other pretty well."
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