If you dig deeper into the kind of leader Toby Nankervis is, he’ll tell you he is “no more important” than the next bloke.
And as he begins his fourth season as captain, his example is the one the whole Club is following.
With the trust of the playing group well and truly cemented, Nankervis, who has played 157 games, has a new duty in season 2025, with plans to take the entire group for the ride.
“I suppose it is a title as such, it’s no more important than the rest of the group,” Nankervis revealed in episode 3 of Richmond’s Forging Forward.
“It takes 45 players to get to where we want to go. It takes literally everyone, staff included.
“The onus is on everyone to progress the Club forward.”
General Manager - Football Performance Tim Livingstone declared endorsing Nankervis to lead again was easy.
Nankervis is tasked with emulating and sharing the lessons of reaching the ultimate success three times in his career.
“The foundation of great leaders comes from having great followers,” Livingstone said.
JOIN THE JOURNEY IN 2025 Whether you’re looking for access to games or supporting from afar, there’s a membership option for everyone
“People that live out those values and actions without the titles attached to their name.”
Alongside Nankervis, Nathan Broad, Tim Taranto, Jayden Short and Tom Lynch make up the leadership group.
With a wealth of big-game experience to the names of the leadership group, Livingstone knows there is an opportunity to teach those “winning behaviours” in 2025.
“One of the strengths of our leadership group at the moment is, they know what success looks like,” he said.
“They understand what it takes to win. That’s something they’re determined to pass on to a relatively young playing group."
The challenge of a new era with that young playing group is something the 30-year-old ruckman doesn’t take lightly.
“For me, it’s just trying to learn and grow each season. I think I have been able to progress each year I’ve been captain,” Nankervis said.
“While there are so many challenges and I do make a lot of mistakes, I think the learnings off that really help me grow as a person.”
WATCH EPISODE 3 OF RICHMOND’S FORGING FORWARD, BACKED BY LATITUDE, THIS SUNDAY AT 5PM (AEDT) ON RICHMONDFC.COM.AU.
