Richmond caretaker coach Andrew McQualter wouldn’t change the way in which Toby Nankervis performs footy “for the world” regardless of the co-captain virtually actually set for a suspension after a success that resulted in a concussion for Sydney’s Jake Lloyd.
In the second quarter of the Tigers’ come-from-behind 13-point win towards the Swans on Thursday evening on the MCG, Nankervis went previous the ball and bumped Lloyd within the head, sending the Sydney defender crashing to the bottom.
The hit left Lloyd reeling for a very long time and he was in the end subbed out, which can virtually actually guarantee Nankervis cops a multiple-week ban.
But that’s a small worth to pay if it means Richmond get the very best out of their co-captain, based on McQualter.
“That’s been Toby’s greatest strength for a long time, his ability to get after the ball and the opposition and whatever comes of it comes,” McQualter stated post-match.
“But we wouldn’t change Toby for the world.”
Sydney coach Longmire wouldn’t be drawn on whether or not the aggressor in such a collision must also sit out the remainder of the sport to make sure an unfair benefit isn’t gained by his staff.
“Can’t do anything about it. You’ve just got to suck it up,” he stated.
McQualter’s assist of Nankervis is unsurprising given the Richmond ruckman was immense, ending with 18 disposals (12 contested), 32 hit-outs, six clearances, seven rating involvements and a aim as he performed a pivotal function in swinging the momentum within the Tigers’ favour after they fell 26 factors in arrears.
His affect within the center was a driving pressure behind the Tigers’ domination of clearances (47-31) and centre clearances (19-7) particularly.
“Toby had a great game … I thought Toby’s second half as captain he led the way with what he did, particularly, the first 15 minutes of that third quarter, I thought he was really significant,” McQualter stated.
In the earlier two seasons, the Tigers had struggled to emerge from shut video games victorious.
But this yr they’re 2-2 and whereas the ultimate margin towards the Swans was 13 factors, there was just one level separating the 2 groups with below a minute to go.
McQualter was rapt together with his staff’s enchancment in tight matches this season and praised their persistence within the second half after a sluggish begin on Thursday evening.
“We obviously had some challenges late in games over the last couple of years, so we’ve put a fair bit of work into that space,” he stated.
“Ultimately it’s about leaders and people standing up in the final moments, and our guys were really able to do that tonight.
“To be fair, the first quarter-and-a-half, we were pretty ordinary.
“They’re a proud group, our players, and last week (81-point loss to Brisbane) was disappointing. We started a little bit disappointing tonight, but to be able to fight through that shows great leadership from our playing group.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
