Nathan Broad collects a handball against West Coast at Optus Stadium on Sunday night.

Nathan Broad continues to maintain an impressively high level of performance in season 2021.

The Tigers triple premiership defender did a superb negating job on dangerous West Coast small forward Liam Ryan in last night’s big clash at Optus Stadium.

He restricted him to just seven disposals and one goal, while racking up 22 disposals, with three rebound-50s, eight marks, nine intercepts and 232 metres gained himself.

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Broad is averaging 16.2 disposals, 6.2 marks, 3.7 rebound-50s, 6.8 intercepts, 4.3 one-percenters and 253.3 metres gained per match this season and would have to be figuring prominently in the Jack Dyer Medal count.

“He’s had a great year, ‘Broady’ . . . he’s been very consistent throughout. Gets the job done most weeks,” declared Richmond coach Damien Hardwick.

“It’s a great story for a player that got drafted at 23 or 24.

“We’re very fortunate that he came to our footy club . . . Learned his craft at Swan Districts and comes in during his first year and plays.

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“I reckon it’s a really good learning curve for a lot of clubs that there’s some really good mature-age players out there that can step in and fulfil roles.”

Broad, 28, made his AFL debut with Richmond in 2016 and has played 83 games.