The 2023 season was one of growth for the Adelaide Football Club. 

From a pair of Showdown victories to opening Gather Round in style, the campaign was filled with memorable moments.

Across the next few months we will look back on the 2023 season by hearing from the players who helped define it.

Welcome to AFC Media’s Reflections series.

Adelaide youngster Luke Nankervis ended his second season at West Lakes vastly different to the way he had entered it.

Coming into the 2023 campaign, Nankervis believed he would spend the year refining his craft as a forward.

But Adelaide’s coaching staff had other ideas.

Wanting to capitalise on the 20-year-old’s athleticism, agility and fast hands, Senior Coach Matthew Nicks trialled Nankervis in defence.

That trial became the catalyst for change and the Sandringham Dragons product began chipping away alongside the Crows’ defensive cohort, quickly making the half-back flank his own during the Club’s SANFL campaign.

The switch led to Nankervis earning an AFL debut against Melbourne at the MCG in Round 19.

Speaking to AFC Media as part of its Reflections series, Nankervis said he was nervous at first, taking on a big change but was keen for the challenge. 

“Obviously I was a forward before the year started and then changed to half-back, so I had a fair bit to learn,” Nankervis said.

“The team was performing pretty well, especially early on in the year and there weren’t many injuries, so the coaches just said ‘keep at it, and keep that form up in the SANFL’.

“To be able to play my first game at half-back, I would’ve never thought that would happen in a million years, but it’s been really good.

“I had dreamed about it since I was a little kid, so being able to play at the top level is pretty special.”

Nankervis’ debut was anything but conventional, though, receiving a call-up to the side just three hours before the first bounce against the Demons.

It kicked off a whirlwind 24 hours for Nankervis, who held his own in a match against a potent Melbourne forward line, to record 16 disposals and six marks.

“I was a travelling emergency, so I wasn’t really expecting to play, but if I had to, I was ready,” Nankervis said.

“One of the boys, who played a similar position to me, happened to get sick, so I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to debut.

“It all happened pretty fast and I didn’t have much time to think about it, so I just had to call Mum and Dad, family and friends to let them know.

“I had always thought about debuting and how nervous I would be, so not really having time to have that nervous sleep before and think about it all day was pretty good.”

Nankervis, who the Crows selected at the 2021 Pre-Season Draft, went on to play in the Round 20 Showdown win, the Round 21 victory against the Suns, and in the six-point loss to Brisbane.

He said the jump from the SANFL into the AFL was challenging but one he was prepared for.

“It is a fair bit faster,” Nankervis said.

“The players you’re playing on are very skilled and if you give them a second, they’ll punish you.

“I have learnt a lot, I was learning new things every week playing AFL - it’s a whole different step - and you really have to work hard to get where you are.

“The first game was pretty hard but also the game against Brisbane - they were both a little bit too close for comfort and it would’ve been good to win those ones.”

Despite not being able to make his debut with housemates Josh Rachele and Jake Soligo alongside him, the trio all featured in the Crows’ win against the Suns in Round 21 - a moment Nankervis said he would always remember. 

“It was pretty fun, we had spoken about it for a while and of course when I came in to play my first game, they’re both out,” Nankervis said.

“Then Josh was out for another week when Jake came in, but it was good to get a game together under our belts.”

Nankervis, who in January signed a two-year contract extension keeping him at the Club until at least the end of 2025, says he is already looking forward to next year and has plenty he wants to achieve.

“One of my goals is to play Round One and then play every game after that and hopefully make finals as a team,” Nankervis said.

“I want to put a bit of size on and get more comfortable at that level and I’d like to improve on my defensive craft as well.

“I have a lot of belief in where the team is going at the moment.

“We brought it to many teams that finished in the top eight this year, so I’m looking forward to next year.”