AFL 2022: New Richmond co-captain’s surprise at fresh honour

Coach Damien Hardwick was ‘worried’ when Trent Cotchin gave up the captaincy - and his replacement leader has admitted to being a little caught off guard by the honour.

Richmond’s new it “couple” is ready to make history at Punt Road as the club’s first ever co-captains, with Toby Nankervis admitting his surprise at being named one of the top Tigers.

Nankervis has been installed alongside premiership defender Dylan Grimes as joint leaders of Richmond this season, after the club’s longest-serving skipper Trent Cotchin stood down from the job at the end of last season.

Coach Damien Hardwick told the Herald Sun recently that he had initially been “a little bit worried” when Cotchin passed the baton, but he had been heartened by the depth of leadership that came to the fore.

And while the typically quietly-spoken Nankervis admitted it “had taken a while to sink in” in recent days with the pair forced to keep the news under wraps — even from their families — until Monday’s official announcement.

Dylan Grimes and Toby Nankervis have replaced Trent Cotchin as joint captains. Picture: Michael Klein

“(I was) a little bit (surprised), yes and no,” he said.

“I’m really confident in my relationships (at the club), and my role and the way I go about my footy.

“It is a little bit surprising, but there’s no reason for me not to think I can do the job. I’m really excited to attack it and give it everything I’ve got.

“I’ll probably make some mistakes, alongside Dylan, but just being myself, I’m really confident I can do that.”

Grimes, who has played 192 games for Richmond, said the pair, while already mates, would spend more time together this week as they prepare to navigate the club’s first co-captaincy.

“We’ve got a lot of strengths and certainly some weaknesses each, but I feel like doing it as a ‘couple’ – as two of us — I feel so much more comfortable going into the challenge with him by my side, and certainly with the support of Trent and the playing group,” he said.

“Over my career, I’ve played under such an amazing captain in Trent and been able to see first-hand his growth and the change that he’s been able to implement in the group.

“As Nank said (on the weekend), there’s a little bit that’s a bit daunting, but there’s a lot of it that’s really exciting.

“I’m feeling as confident as we could be with great leaders like Trent and Jack (Riewoldt) still around at the footy club, it’s the best case scenario for us to continue to learn and develop with those great leaders still here.”

Richmond’s Trent Cotchin (C) has handed over captaincy duties. Picture: Michael Klein.

Leadership specialist Shane McCurry oversaw what was a lengthy process to reach the appointments, with the rest of the leadership group to be announced this week.

Grimes acknowledged that leading one of the biggest clubs in the AFL comes with “extra responsibility”, but not pressure.

“Not really is the short answer, because in some ways our role and what we do around the club and how we behave around the club really isn’t going to change a great deal, but there is extra commitment,” he said.

“I feel like I’m going to be me, and that’s really important to me and my leadership, is that I’m authentic and I'm the same leader that I have been.

“But … there is more responsibility that we’re going to have to grow into. But I look to (Nankervis) and it fills me with confidence that we’re doing it together and not riding solo.

“I think it’d be a bit more daunting.”

Chief executive Brendon Gale said it was a “strong decision” by the club.

They are outstanding young men and leaders. Outstanding characters, strong, competitive, selfless footballers, but with great introspection, thought and empathy, which I think is a really important part of being a leader at this football club,” he said.

NEW SKIPPER DEFENDS STACK’S CLIFF STUNT AFTER ON-AIR BACKLASH

Richmond co-captain Dylan Grimes has backed emerging star Sydney Stack for having a “life outside of footy” after the young Tiger was criticised for backflipping off a cliff ahead of the 2022 season.

Stack was questioned by commentators on “whether he takes his career seriously” after teammate Tom Lynch posted a video clip of his weekend antics at the popular ‘Jumping Rock’ in Blairgowrie.

“We were at the club when it came out, and it was a bit of a non-issue in our eyes, really,” Grimes said.

“We encourage all players to live a life outside of footy, and certainly jumping into a rockpool I don’t think was in breach of any of our footy codes.”

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Dylan Grimes has backed Sydney Stack. Picture: Michael Klein

“Tom Lynch was there with him, and was swimming in the same rockpool, and suddenly it’s a Sydney Stack issue. There’s not really much to talk about there,” he said.

The Tigers social media subtly swiped back at critics on Monday morning tweeting throwback photos of Coach Damien Hardwick and Shai Bolton also plunging into bodies of water.

“We were in Bright for preseason camp a couple of weeks ago, and I actually saw the chief (Brendon Gale) jumping into a rockpool in his Speedos,” Grimes said.

“So I think I’d prefer to see Stacky doing a backflip than the chief.”

Stack signed a one-year contract extension last October and has played 33 games over three seasons.

One commentator said Stack “looks like he is an expert at doing backflips off cliffs” and that he wished “he was an expert at playing football” after finding himself on the wrong side of the law at the end of 2020 after breaking WA Covid laws.

Throwback to pre-season camp two weeks ago.

The boys loved all the activities Dimma put together 😃 pic.twitter.com/GY5ntR2TIu

— Richmond FC 🐯 (@Richmond_FC) February 13, 2022

Coach Damien Hardwick spoke last July of Stack’s determination to move forward in the wake of his personal challenges, and backed him as “a great person off-field”.

“I think what happens is everyone matures and everyone grows up at stages, don’t they?” Hardwick said.

“Some take a little longer than others, but we always thought Sydney’s on-field performance is not our biggest concern.

“He can play the game, there is no doubt about that. But what we have been really impressed with is how he has gone about his life off-field.

“He has started to get some things in play, he has started to grow up, which is not only going to make him a great footballer, I think, but also a great person off the field.”

Originally published as AFL 2022: New Richmond co-captain’s surprise at fresh honour