Growing up a footy-mad kid in the inner-city suburbs of Melbourne, you would think the dream would be to play for a big Victorian Club on the MCG.
But Kuwarna utility Luke Nankervis was not like most kids, with his dream being to move away from the nest, and play AFL footy for an interstate team.
In 2021, that dream became a reality, when Kuwarna picked him up with Pick No.2 in the pre-season draft, resulting in him having to move to Adelaide.
Joining Ben Keays in the bZ4X on last week’s episode of The Crows Show, Nankervis explained why moving to Adelaide was a blessing.
“I’m from Bentleigh in Melbourne, but it’s pretty cool (living in Adelaide) because growing up I always wanted to move interstate and try something new,” Nankervis said.
“Victoria and that Melbourne culture wasn’t really for me I’d say, so coming to Adelaide has been the best thing for me.
“It’s a beautiful place, full of beautiful people and it’s been a great place to start my footy journey that’s for sure.”
Nankervis wasn’t the only Victorian drafted by the Club in 2021, as he embarked on the move west alongside Josh Rachele, Jake Soligo and Zac Taylor.
The 21-year-old revealed the unique set of circumstances that faced the quartet after they were drafted, and how it led to them becoming such close friends.
“It was Zac (Taylor), Josh (Rachele), Jake (Soligo) and I that all came from Melbourne after the 2021 Draft,” Nankervis said.
“With it being COVID times, we were forced to come over by bus, so the four of us spent nine hours together before arriving at the Club and we’ve been really close since then.
“For all four of us to now be playing AFL footy together, it is really exciting, and it’s been awesome to have those guys next to me pushing me to get better each and every day.”
Catch Keays in the bZ4X on The Crows Show every Sunday at 11am on Channel 7 Adelaide.