Richmond captain Toby Nankervis is in a race to be fit for the AFL season-opener against the Gold Coast Suns on March 9.
The new details around the skipper’s injury have come to light as the Tigers name their squad for their first official practice match against Collingwood on Tuesday night.
See the full teams for the Tigers v Magpies clash below
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Nankervis is recovering from a foot injury and is suddenly no certainty to be available for Opening Round.
It has been revealed Liam Baker will captain the Tigers in his absence …. and they will be bolstered by several stars on Tuesday night when they take on Collingwood in an official practice match at Ikon Park.
Some of the big names who will be playing for Richmond include superstar Dustin Martin, former co-captain Dylan Grimes and the club’s 2023 best-and-fairest winner Tim Taranto.
In a boost, the injury-cursed Dion Prestia is also returning from a hamstring issue.
The Nankervis injury also paves the way for the fairytale return of forgotten big man Sam Naismith.
The popular Naismith was dogged by serious knee injuries when he was at the Sydney Swans and was eventually delisted after managing just two games in five seasons.
He has however been handed lifeline by the Tigers for this season after impressing at VFL level for Port Melbourne.
For the reigning premiers, veterans Scott Pendlebury and Jeremy Howe are the only two players sitting out for the Pies.
Howe has a corked calf and Pendlebury had a knock to his knee but both players are expected to line up for Collingwood’s Opening Round clash with the GWS Giants in Sydney on March 9.
Collingwood v Richmond at Ikon Park, 6.40pm AEDT
COLLINGWOOD
B: Darcy Moore, Brayden Maynard, Oleg MarkovHB: Billy Frampton, Isaac Quaynor, Nick DaicosC: Bobby Hill, Jordan De Goey, Josh DaicosHF: Tom Mitchell, Darcy Cameron, Lachie SchultzF: Will Hoskin-Elliott, Jamie Elliott, Brody MihocekFoll: Mason Cox, Steele Sidebottom, Patrick LipinskiI/C: John Noble, Finlay Macrae, Jack Crisp, Reef McInnes, Beau McCreery, Harvey Harrison, Ash Johnson, Charlie DeanEmerg: Nathan Kreuger, Jakob Ryan, Joe Richards, Lachlan Sullivan
Big Names Missing: Jeremy Howe, Scott Pendlebury
RICHMOND
B: Dylan Grimes, Tylar Young, Josh GibcusHB: Jayden Short, Nathan Broad, Daniel RioliC: Kamdyn McIntosh, Dion Prestia, Marlion PickettHF: Seth Campbell, Liam Baker, Shai BoltonF: Jacob Koschitzke, Dustin Martin, Noah BaltaFoll: Sam Naismith, Thomson Dow, Tim TarantoI/C: Tom Brown, Jacob Hopper, Jack Graham, Samson Ryan, Ben Miller, Jack Ross, Steely Green, Mykelti LefauEmerg: Hugo Ralphsmith, James Trezise, Kane McAuliffe, Maurice Rioli Jr
Big Names Missing: Tom Lynch, Toby Nankervis, Rhyan Mansell, Nick Vlastuin,
