Luke Nankervis Explained

Luke Nankervis
Fullname:Luke Nankervis
Nickname:Skywalker, Jedi, Nank
Birth Date:25 May 2003
Birth Place:Victoria
Originalteam:Sandringham Dragons (Talent League)
Bentleigh (SFNL)
Draftpick:No. 2, 2022 pre-season draft
Debutdate:Round 19, 2023
Debutteam:Adelaide
Debutstadium:MCG
Height:184 cm
Weight:55 kg
Position:Midfielder / Defender
Guernsey:27
Years1:2023–
Games Goals1:24 (1)
Statsend:2024
Careerhighlights:

Luke Nankervis (born 25 May 2003) is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Adelaide Crows in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early career

Luke Nankervis played eight games for Sandringham in 2021, kicking four goals and averaging 13.5 disposals as an athletic half-forward.[1] Born and raised in Victoria, Nankervis played amateur football for Bentleigh in the Southern Football Netball League in his youth. He won a premiership for the club at under-16 level.

The coronavirus pandemic and an ongoing knee injury postponed Nankervis' draft year in 2021. Nankervis had to wait until the New Year, and ultimately was drafted by with the second selection of the 2022 pre-season draft.[2]

AFL career

Before the 2023 season, Luke Nankervis extended his contract with the Crows for an additional two seasons, securing his place in the playing list until at least the end of 2025.[3] He averaged 21.5 disposals and a goal during the 2022 SANFL finals series. Prior to 2023, Nankervis had played almost exclusively as a half-forward flanker playing in Adelaide's reserves team. He moved to a more defensive role during the 2023 SANFL season, playing as a running half-back.[4] He excelled in the role change, and earned an senior debut in round 19 of the 2023 season against at the MCG.[5] Nankervis collected 16 disposals as a half-back flanker on debut.[6] In 2024, Nankervis is becoming one of Adelaide's more consistent young talents, slowly shifting into a role on the wing.

Following a career-best game of 28 disposals, 10 marks, and 10 intercept possessions against, Nankervis was awarded with the Rising Star nomination for round 13, 2024.[7] His first career goal was a 50-meter set shot which came in the final round of 2024 against .

Personal life

Nankervis has two older brothers – Ryan and Joel – and a younger sister, Milly.[8] Their father, Paul, was listed with the Melbourne Football Club's under 19s squad in the 1980s, but never played senior VFL football.[2] [9]

Since October 2022, he lives with fellow Victorians and current teammates Josh Rachele and Jake Soligo.[10]

Statistics

Updated to the end of 2024.[11] |-| 2022 || || 27 || 0 || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – |-| 2023 || || 27 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 36 || 18 || 54 || 18 || 13 || 0 || 0 || 9.0 || 4.5 || 13.5 || 4.5 || 3.3 |- | 2024 || || 27 || 20 || 1 || 1 || 191 || 149 || 340 || 100 || 36 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 9.6 || 7.5 || 17.0 || 5.0 || 1.8 |- class="sortbottom"! colspan=3| Career! 24 !! 1 !! 1 !! 128 !! 99 !! 227 !! 80 !! 27 !! 0.0 !! 0.0 !! 9.5 !! 7.0 !! 16.4 !! 4.9 !! 2.0 |}

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Luke Nankervis Draft Profile. Rookie Me Central.
  2. Web site: Pre-season Draft Selection: Luke Nankervis. 26 November 2021. Adelaide Football Club.
  3. Web site: Adelaide re-sign young forward Luke Nankervis. Harry. Playford. Zero Hanger. 25 January 2023.
  4. Web site: Nankervis relishing role change in 2023. Adelaide Football Club. Zac. Standish. 14 June 2023.
  5. Web site: Nankervis to debut against the Dees. Daniela. Harvey. Adelaide Football Club. 23 July 2023.
  6. Web site: Melbourne vs. Adelaide Crows - Match Stats - July 23, 2023. 23 July 2023. ESPN.
  7. Web site: Impressive young Crow lands Rising Star nomination. AFL. 11 June 2024. en.
  8. Web site: 15 Questions: Luke Nankervis. Harvey. Daniela. Adelaide Football Club. 9 December 2021.
  9. Web site: Luke Nankervis: Apprentice jedi. sandringhamdragons.com.au. Marcus. Uhe. 29 September 2024.
  10. Web site: The friendship pushing Rachele to new heights. Daniela. Harvey. Adelaide Football Club. 5 January 2023.
  11. Web site: Luke Nankervis. AFL Tables. 12 June 2024.