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No time to wallow in finals defeat
ADAM SMITH,
Mercury
March 8, 2019
THE pain of last year’s finals exit still burns for Richmond but with a new season fast approaching the playing group can ill afford to dwell on the missed opportunity.
Having finished eight points clear on top of the ladder, the Tigers were swarmed by Collingwood in the preliminary final, ending hopes of back-to-back premierships.
Ruckman Toby Nankervis concedes it left a bitter taste in the mouth but the shattering defeat has not been used as motivation for the 2019 campaign.
“It definitely does sting and you are probably never really over it but you do have to move on – you can’t dwell on it,” Nankervis said.
“A new season comes and you have to put your best foot forward this year.”
After opening its JLT Community Series with a 12-point victory against fellow beaten preliminary finalists Melbourne, Richmond heads to UTAS Stadium on Saturday for a clash with Hawthorn.
Nankervis said the addition of new faces Tom Lynch (Gold Coast), fellow Tasmanian Mav Weller and a fresh batch of draftees also helped push last year’s disappointment into the background.
“We got some new players in, Lynch, Mav, the new draftees, they have really brought a lot of energy.
“You have to move on pretty quick from last year because you have a massive pre-season and it is a new year so they have brought some new energy, some new ideas.”
Toby Nankervis tackles Jake Aarts during a practice match. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty
For Nankervis — who is often regarded as the Tigers’ most important player given his largely lone role in the ruck — it will be the first time he has played in his home state since he was drafted by Sydney in 2013.
He expects the club to roll out something close to the side which will take the field in the AFL season opener against Carlton, with the need to get used to the new rules a priority.
“Although we don’t want to be playing our best footy yet we want to take a step forward leading into round one.
“We always want to win these games but it is more about the system you play and I suppose getting that back up and going.
“It is funny, the new rules, it does make a little bit of a difference but after a couple of games it will become normal and we won’t think too much about them.
“Just with the two [pre-season] games this year you probably need to get minutes into the players, I think previously we had three games where you could afford to manage players a bit more.
“But most players are pretty keen to have good hit-outs and get good minutes.”
