Richmond ruckman Toby Nankervis made his return from injury in his side’s win over Brisbane on Friday night, playing his first game since Round 11.
The hugely influential big man had 22 touches, four marks, four tackles as well as 25 hit outs, highlighting his importance to the Tigers.
Nick Dal Santo said he was “tackling to hurt people” during the game, saying his physical approach was something his teammate “fed off”.
“I thought he had intent with his application at the ruck contest and particularly around the ground," he said on SEN's Crunch Time.
“He was tackling to hurt people and probably pushed things a little bit – we have to be careful with the sling tackle – but he was the big presence that the other players fed off on Friday night.”
Former Richmond assistant coach Justin Leppitsch said Nankervis was one of only a few players in the AFL who oppositions would be “physically scared of”, saying he was critical to the way Damien Hardwick’s side plays.
“He always touches a line in (the physicality) part of the game," he said.
“They need him to get up and going, he’s not the tap ruckman that most teams have in the competition, he’s the follow up guy.
“There’s not many players in the competition you can be physically scared of anymore, but I think he’s one of them.”