Adelaide youngster Luke Nankervis is starting to feel at home at AFL level

When Luke Nankervis first arrived at West Lakes it was his Jedi ‘Padawan braid’ that caught the eye. Now he is making sure it is his footy that stands out, as he becomes a key part of the Crows.

Adelaide defender Luke Nankervis. Picture: Connor Chamberlin

Luke Nankervis arrived at West Lakes, wide-eyed with optimism and with one-hell of a hairstyle.

It has taken him a couple of years, but now he feels that he is finally finding his place at AFL level.

After adding seven kilos to his frame prior to the 2021 season, and then catching the eye of recruiters in the first quarter of a Sandringham Dragons internal trial, the Crows drafted him with the second pick of the pre-season draft at the end of the year.

This was because they got wind another club might take him in the rookie draft, so Adelaide activated a spot on its list to get earlier access to him.

“I didn’t even really know what the pre-season draft was before I got picked up in it,” Nankervis told this masthead.

“I was unsure whether I was going to get a chance really so when I went pick two in the pre-season I just scraped in.”

Adelaide defender Luke Nankervis. Picture: Connor Chamberlin

Arriving as part of a draft crop of No. 6 pick Josh Rachele, No. 36 pick Jake Soligo and No. 44 pick, Nankervis stood out immediately on his first day at West Lakes.

The now 21-year-old rocked up with a Jedi ‘Padawan braid’, spoke passionately about wanting to move out of home and interstate.

Just under three years later, he is loving being in Adelaide – living with Rachele and Soligo.

Sadly for fans of Star Wars and footy, the braid is no more.

“I had to get rid of it,” he said.

“A little bit childish, it dreaded and all that so I had to grow up and get rid of it.

“It wasn’t getting in the way but it was almost a dreadlock and I couldn’t undo it so it was pretty yuck and I chopped it off.

“I just copped a lot of s***-talking from it. A few of the boys even comment about it today saying “what the hell were you doing with your hair”.”

Nankervis after he first arrived at West Lakes in 2021. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

But it was a big part of Nankervis being himself.

“I’m big about that,” he said.

“Especially coming to the club, it was a bit scary so to have that it was a bit bold I am not going to lie.

“I am definitely big about being yourself.”

WHEN asked to describe what the house he shares with Rachele and Soligo was like, you quickly get a vibe from Nankervis.

“It is pretty chill, we have a table tennis table so we play a bit of that,” he said.

“We rotate the cooking a bit, normally we are just chilling out and most of the time we aren’t even in the house we are out doing stuff.

“We just relax and hang out with each other.”

But for a while it drove Nankervis.

Rachele and Soligo immediately got into the Crows’ senior side.

Rachele flew out of the gates to start his Crows career in 2022, while Soligo ended up playing 16 games in his debut campaign.

Nankervis with housemates Josh Rachele and Jake Soligo, as well as Zac Taylor after being drafted. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Nankervis on the other hand spent the entire 2022 in the SANFL, desperate to join his housemates in the big league.

“I would say it was a little bit tough,” he said.

“Obviously I was excited for them and happy for them but I think that just drove me more to want to be in the AFL squad playing alongside them and all the other boys.

“I feel like I definitely used it as a driving point than a negative one to bring me down.

“I did my time in the SANFL and got my opportunity.”

But when Nankervis finally did get his opportunity to debut, against Melbourne at the MCG in Round 19 last year – Rachele and Soligo weren’t playing.

“For the first two years we spoke about it for ages and then I ended up debuting and none of them were even playing,” he said.

“But yeah it has been pretty cool, we have all been pushing since we got to the club so I think all our hard work is paying off and I’m enjoying it.”

That came as a defender, before he joined the Crows Nankervis was a forward/wing and had never really contemplated going down to the backline.

But that string was added to the bow, and while he returned to the Crows senior side as a wingman he was shifted back again.

Against Collingwood he had the best game of his 11-game career, with 20 disposals, 12 of them kicks at 80 per cent disposal as well as seven intercept possessions and five score involvements.

Nankervis is finding his place at AFL level. Picture: Connor Chamberlin

“Personally I think I have been going alright and the team has been pretty close to winning a few of those big games, so it would be nice to get on top in some more of them,” he said.

“I was feeling pretty comfortable on the wing but we were a bit depleted down back, and they knew I could play down there. So I think I have fitted in pretty nicely and I think we are holding up pretty well there.

“I am enjoying my time down back but yeah I do enjoy the wing, that feeling you might be able to kick a goal or two and getting up and down the ground.”

He will be looking to build on this against West Coast on Sunday at Adelaide Oval with the Crows needing to win to keep their slim finals chances alive.

“They are a bit of a scary team now, they have been playing really well over the last couple of weeks so they will be a tough proposition,” he said.

“But I think our best footy can beat anyone.”

Originally published as Adelaide youngster Luke Nankervis is starting to feel at home at AFL level