JUST one year since they got together and already the union of Richmond and ruckman Toby Nankervis is shaping as a marriage made in footballing heaven.

After being narrowly overlooked for a spot in Sydney's Grand Final team last year, Nankervis was open to a change of scenery.

It wasn't that the Swans' coaching staff didn't rate him, rather that they had a glut of ruckmen, headed by big Sam Naismith.

Ex-Crow Kurt Tippett continues to divide opinion among the footballing cognoscenti, but his huge-money contract meant he wasn't going anywhere.

Callum Sinclair's versatility as a ruckman and a marking key forward also appealed to the Swans.

So it was Nankervis - who had only racked up 12 senior games in three years at Sydney - who moved on.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick liked what he saw in the raw-boned Tasmanian and the Tigers were able to get the trade done for the bargain-basement price of pick No.45 in the draft.

With last year's first-choice ruckman Shaun Hampson missing almost all of 2017 with a serious back injury, Nankervis slotted straight into the No.1 role at Tigerland.

Promoted rookie Ivan Soldo provided support in seven games midway through the season, but the 23-year-old Nankervis has been largely required to go it alone.

"That's when I play my best footy, around the ball and in the ruck," Nankervis said.

"I love that responsibility, fulfilling my role for the team, which is what I try and do every week.

"I want to put in a big contest in the ruck and then get after it on the ground.

"It's pretty simple for me."

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Come Saturday's Grand Final and the 199cm Nankervis will be asked to again go one-out against Adelaide's Sam Jacobs.

"He's an elite tap ruckman but he's also good around the ground," Nankervis said.

"He can take a good mark, he can go forward and kick a goal and his follow-up work is pretty awesome as well.

"He's got so many strings to his bow."

Much has been made this year of Richmond's unconventional attack, which includes a host of fleet-footed smaller players and just the one key marking option in Jack Riewoldt.

But the Tigers' ruck set-up is similarly unusual when Nankervis needs a rest.

Utility Shaun Grigg, all 190cm of him, is the back-up option, while even shorter players such as Josh Caddy and Jacob Townsend have also been required to contest ball-ups and throw-ins.

"Grigga is a very smart footballer so he knows his way around what to do," Nankervis said.

"All he has to do is make a contest and give me a spell for five minutes."