Toby ready for his idol

STANDING opposite Tasmanian Tiger Toby Nankervis at the centre bounce for Saturday’s AFL grand final will be the man he has modelled his game on, Giants veteran ruckman Shane Mumford.

Neither are ever going to lead the AFL in hit-outs, but it is their competitiveness and work off the ball and at the stoppages that means both are vital to their teams chances.

Nankervis, 25, at 199cm, 102kg is almost a carbon copy of the 33-year-old 198cm, 105kg Mumford in physique and approach.

“He’s a great competitor and someone who I have really looked up to for the five or six years I’ve been in the AFL,” Nankervis said.

“He’s very physical and aggressive, what he does well for their team he really lifts them.

“He’s someone I’ve really enjoyed playing against.

“There are a lot of physical ruckmen out there, but his strength is his follow-up work, that is absolute elite part of his game so that is something I’ll have to match.”

But Nankervis probably won’t get first crack at Mumford.

After being an integral part of the Tigers since transferring from Sydney two years ago, the former North Launceston big hardly missed a game — including the 2017 flag.

But this year, a serious groin injury saw him miss 13 games.

He has played in the qualifying final win over Brisbane and the preliminary final win over Geelong as the second ruckman to Ivan Soldo.

“It has been challenging, it has been one of those injuries that wasn’t as straight forward as I would have liked,” he said.

“We have had to manage it week to week. It has been quite frustrating but I’ve done a lot of work and I’m confident in the work I’ve done.”

Nankervis spent much of his rehab alongside fellow Tasmanian Jack Riewoldt.

The key forward endured a quiet game in the win over the Cats, failing to kick a goal.

But Nankervis said that was not how Riewoldt’s game was measured inside Punt Road.

“I thought Jack had a massive impact on the game,” Nankervis said.

“The way his game is rated internally would be very strong.

“The amount of things he does that goes unnoticed and doesn’t get a stat for ... but internally his role is massive in bringing the ball to ground, knock ons and stuff like that.

“There wouldn’t be a better player who goes about that selfless side of the game.

“Jack is a big game player and no doubt he’ll play well again this week.”