Player Watch Luke Nankervis - Re-Signed to End of 2027

[Tex Danger]

Imagine our backline lookinga bit like this next year

Michalanney Murray Jones
Nankervis Worrell Milera / Redman

Gives us height and power with Murray and Worrell, intercept ability and some class back there with Nank and Michalanney and some zip with Jones and Milera or Redman

1 tall short IMO.
Also are you assuming hinge moves up field? He is best 22 (I’ve liked Jones on a wing so I’d have hinge there and Jones up field. Then there’s versatility of knowing he can move back to cover injury/sub as well as if having an off day swap with a hinge/nank

Max butts Worrell
Redman Murray Hinge

Nank/Milera both bench? 1 of these/hinge could rotate up to a wing perhaps. Has nank played much wing this year and done well or has his best exposed form being exclusive to when settled of half back?

Smith easily could/should be on outer if we bring in Redman. Probably would be a decent sub option next year

Our Back 6/7 does look to be shaping pretty well esp if Redman is added

 

[weirdo]

To the people expressing frustrations regarding Nicks' youth selection policy, I suggest you look at the list composition before he came in (2019) compared to now. We've pushed a tonne of experience out the door since that time for the exact reason that we wanted to blood youth and move on from yesterday's players.

Under Nicks, we've handed out 23 debut games to players we've drafted. In addition, we have the 17th most experienced list this year after being 18th for two or three years before that.

Here's a shortlist of 'games played' of some players drafted under Nicks' tenure:

Rachele 30/40 games.
Soligo 32/40.
Pedlar's only missed one game through suspension all year after dealing with injuries prior to this.
Berry played 39 games in his first two years.
Murray 46/62.
Thilthorpe 41/62.
Michalanney 17/18 games.
Worrell's playing regularly after grafting for a couple of years.
Schoenberg got games early on and now this year for the most part has been sent back to find form and fitness.
Parnell similar.
McAsey was thrown to the wolves in 2020.

That's eleven players, seven of which are getting regular games. Others may have need of time to develop or find form (like Cook and Nank). Given this, to suggest that Nicks and our match committee don't give younger players a crack seems strange. There's been a clear and obvious push for youth since 2020.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Let's hope he remains in the team for the rest of the year. I bet he gets dropped back this week.

Surely plays out the season.

We need to get games into him asap.

 

[cmndstab]

To the people expressing frustrations regarding Nicks' youth selection policy, I suggest you look at the list composition before he came in (2019) compared to now. We've pushed a tonne of experience out the door since that time for the exact reason that we wanted to blood youth and move on from yesterday's players.

Under Nicks, we've handed out 23 debut games to players we've drafted. In addition, we have the 17th most experienced list this year after being 18th for two or three years before that.

Here's a shortlist of 'games played' of some players drafted under Nicks' tenure:

Rachele 30/40 games.
Soligo 32/40.
Pedlar's only missed one game through suspension all year after dealing with injuries prior to this.
Berry played 39 games in his first two years.
Murray 46/62.
Thilthorpe 41/62.
Michalanney 17/18 games.
Worrell's playing regularly after grafting for a couple of years.
Schoenberg got games early on and now this year for the most part has been sent back to find form and fitness.
Parnell similar.
McAsey was thrown to the wolves in 2020.

That's eleven players, seven of which are getting regular games. Others may have need of time to develop or find form (like Cook and Nank). Given this, to suggest that Nicks and our match committee don't give younger players a crack seems strange. There's been a clear and obvious push for youth since 2020.

The issue is not that no youth gets played. When you have a list full of young kids it's essentially unavoidable.

The issue is how often the experienced stalwarts get prioritised ahead of the kids. Crouch spending most of the year in the SANFL is a step in the right direction, but outside of round 1 debuts (Soligo, Rachele, Michalanney etc), for the most part we've seen young kids get games only when spots are forced open by injury or suspension.

 

[weirdo]

The issue is not that no youth gets played. When you have a list full of young kids it's essentially unavoidable.

The issue is how often the experienced stalwarts get prioritised ahead of the kids. Crouch spending most of the year in the SANFL is a step in the right direction, but outside of round 1 debuts (Soligo, Rachele, Michalanney etc), for the most part we've seen young kids get games only when spots are forced open by injury or suspension.

As you said, it's practically unavoidable that we play so many kids each week because the list is stacked with them. So how'd we get here? The reason we're even in a rebuild is because we made the active decision to move on from stalwarts such as Talia, Betts, Jenkins, Brown, Greenwood, Brad Crouch etc. These decisions were made so that we could prioritise youth.

Matt Crouch isn't the exception nor is he the first step to change; he's just one part of this pattern that goes back to late 2019, after we fired Pyke and hired Nicks.

I agree with you that some players seem to have more of a golden ticket than others, but I don't think it's as bad as it's made out to be on here.

 

[cmndstab]

As you said, it's practically unavoidable that we play so many kids each week because the list is stacked with them. So how'd we get here? The reason we're even in a rebuild is because we made the active decision to move on from stalwarts such as Talia, Betts, Jenkins, Brown, Greenwood, Brad Crouch etc. These decisions were made so that we could prioritise youth.

Matt Crouch isn't the exception nor is he the first step to change; he's just one part of this pattern that goes back to late 2019, after we fired Pyke and hired Nicks.

I agree with you that some players seem to have more of a golden ticket than others, but I don't think it's as bad as it's made out to be on here.

The "decision" to focus on youth in our list profile was mostly forced on us. We didn't make a decision to move on from Talia or Brown, they continued to be selected for every game they were available until they retired. Just like Douglas, Lynch, Mackay and Seedsman all played consistently until they retired, and Otten remained on the list for years. We didn't make a decision to move on from Brad Crouch or Betts, they asked to leave. Just like Lever, Cameron and McGovern asked to leave. All were considered walk-up starts before requesting a trade. Jenkins still played 11 games in his last season for us before requesting a trade. Hell, even mostly useless players like Atkins, Ellis-Yolmen, Kelly and Frampton were only traded out after they asked to leave.

The only real list management decisions we've made in favour of youth have been to move on a cooked Sam Jacobs a year after O'Brien took his spot, a completely superfluous Kyle Hartigan. I suppose at a stretch you can count the trading out of Greenwood and Keath in their mid-20s.

Matt Crouch is notable because he is the only example of a senior player who has not yet retired or requested a trade, that we have sent back to the SANFL for any prolonged period of time. Yes, we've selected kids, but only because we have no choice. There aren't any other senior options to select. And when there are other kids who warrant being played, we seem extremely reluctant to do it, and only ever do so at the expense of other kids unless injuries/suspension force our hand.

And that's before we even discuss how players are often asked to play out of position so that the established senior players can retain their preferred roles.

I'm sympathetic to the argument that when you have so few senior players, you need to play them to help protect the kids from getting smashed all over the park. That argument made sense in 2020. It doesn't make sense now. We've now spent the best part of four seasons fielding a very young side out of necessity. They're ready to take the starring roles.

 

[George Kramer]

The "decision" to focus on youth in our list profile was mostly forced on us. We didn't make a decision to move on from Talia or Brown, they continued to be selected for every game they were available until they retired. Just like Douglas, Lynch, Mackay and Seedsman all played consistently until they retired, and Otten remained on the list for years. We didn't make a decision to move on from Brad Crouch or Betts, they asked to leave. Just like Lever, Cameron and McGovern asked to leave. All were considered walk-up starts before requesting a trade. Jenkins still played 11 games in his last season for us before requesting a trade. Hell, even mostly useless players like Atkins, Ellis-Yolmen, Kelly and Frampton were only traded out after they asked to leave.

The only real list management decisions we've made in favour of youth have been to move on a cooked Sam Jacobs a year after O'Brien took his spot, a completely superfluous Kyle Hartigan. I suppose at a stretch you can count the trading out of Greenwood and Keath in their mid-20s.

Matt Crouch is notable because he is the only example of a senior player who has not yet retired or requested a trade, that we have sent back to the SANFL for any prolonged period of time. Yes, we've selected kids, but only because we have no choice. There aren't any other senior options to select. And when there are other kids who warrant being played, we seem extremely reluctant to do it, and only ever do so at the expense of other kids unless injuries/suspension force our hand.

And that's before we even discuss how players are often asked to play out of position so that the established senior players can retain their preferred roles.

I'm sympathetic to the argument that when you have so few senior players, you need to play them to help protect the kids from getting smashed all over the park. That argument made sense in 2020. It doesn't make sense now. We've now spent the best part of four seasons fielding a very young side out of necessity. They're ready to take the starring roles.

We offered a cooked Jacobs another year too

 

[LoBu]

The "decision" to focus on youth in our list profile was mostly forced on us. We didn't make a decision to move on from Talia or Brown, they continued to be selected for every game they were available until they retired. Just like Douglas, Lynch, Mackay and Seedsman all played consistently until they retired, and Otten remained on the list for years. We didn't make a decision to move on from Brad Crouch or Betts, they asked to leave. Just like Lever, Cameron and McGovern asked to leave. All were considered walk-up starts before requesting a trade. Jenkins still played 11 games in his last season for us before requesting a trade. Hell, even mostly useless players like Atkins, Ellis-Yolmen, Kelly and Frampton were only traded out after they asked to leave.

The only real list management decisions we've made in favour of youth have been to move on a cooked Sam Jacobs a year after O'Brien took his spot, a completely superfluous Kyle Hartigan. I suppose at a stretch you can count the trading out of Greenwood and Keath in their mid-20s.

Matt Crouch is notable because he is the only example of a senior player who has not yet retired or requested a trade, that we have sent back to the SANFL for any prolonged period of time. Yes, we've selected kids, but only because we have no choice. There aren't any other senior options to select. And when there are other kids who warrant being played, we seem extremely reluctant to do it, and only ever do so at the expense of other kids unless injuries/suspension force our hand.

And that's before we even discuss how players are often asked to play out of position so that the established senior players can retain their preferred roles.

I'm sympathetic to the argument that when you have so few senior players, you need to play them to help protect the kids from getting smashed all over the park. That argument made sense in 2020. It doesn't make sense now. We've now spent the best part of four seasons fielding a very young side out of necessity. They're ready to take the starring roles.

Mostly true (Talia and Brown were dropped so weird example), but another perspective is that list management dictated that we would have a massive turnover at the same time as we were going for a premiership.

It was list management decisions along with low draft picks in the first and second round that necessitated the rebuild.

I've been annoyed we have played senior players at the end of the year, but I'm hoping this year will be different. Why? Because this year we had a crack at the finals, once we are out we need to start planning for next year. Previously this hasn't been the case, we have been out of the chase the whole season and we were selling hope and Nicksy's contract.

On SM-F926B using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[weirdo]

The "decision" to focus on youth in our list profile was mostly forced on us. We didn't make a decision to move on from Talia or Brown, they continued to be selected for every game they were available until they retired. Just like Douglas, Lynch, Mackay and Seedsman all played consistently until they retired, and Otten remained on the list for years. We didn't make a decision to move on from Brad Crouch or Betts, they asked to leave. Just like Lever, Cameron and McGovern asked to leave. All were considered walk-up starts before requesting a trade. Jenkins still played 11 games in his last season for us before requesting a trade. Hell, even mostly useless players like Atkins, Ellis-Yolmen, Kelly and Frampton were only traded out after they asked to leave.

The only real list management decisions we've made in favour of youth have been to move on a cooked Sam Jacobs a year after O'Brien took his spot, a completely superfluous Kyle Hartigan. I suppose at a stretch you can count the trading out of Greenwood and Keath in their mid-20s.

Matt Crouch is notable because he is the only example of a senior player who has not yet retired or requested a trade, that we have sent back to the SANFL for any prolonged period of time. Yes, we've selected kids, but only because we have no choice. There aren't any other senior options to select. And when there are other kids who warrant being played, we seem extremely reluctant to do it, and only ever do so at the expense of other kids unless injuries/suspension force our hand.

And that's before we even discuss how players are often asked to play out of position so that the established senior players can retain their preferred roles.

Do people honestly think that players like Brown, Talia, Betts, Jenkins, Brad Crouch and Lynch wouldn't have signed on if we wanted to keep them around?

Yes, the 'narrative' is they they 'retired' or 'asked to leave' but this is because they could see the writing on the wall with the youth movement. Talia was mad at us for not offering him another contract, Brad was shoved out the door because we thought we could get an insane compo pick for him. In some cases, we already had replacements for them such as Parnell for Brown, Stengle for Betts and Butts for Talia. Make no mistake, we made the decision to push them out the door.

Other players that you mention such as Douglas, Lever, Cameron and McGovern are pre-Nicks and as such are before the timeline in question. I definitely agree that we had a 'prioritise the experience' policy before Nicks, but not since.

You say we only select kids because we have no choice - this is absolutely true, but why it's true is key. It's because the football club decided to cut deep into the list, start a rebuild and deprive ourselves of that choice and make it so that we had to select them.

I'm sympathetic to the argument that when you have so few senior players, you need to play them to help protect the kids from getting smashed all over the park. That argument made sense in 2020. It doesn't make sense now. We've now spent the best part of four seasons fielding a very young side out of necessity. They're ready to take the starring roles.

You should keep that sympathy for a couple more years; the players drafted since 2020 are still 22 or under. Many of them still haven't even filled out their bodies. To ask them to be anything more than an inconsistent role player, let alone a star, is unrealistic at this point in time.

Anytime a younger players gets a block of games and doesn't star, BigFooty gets agitated and says they're a bust, and people start criticising our recruitment team. See Fogarty and Jones.

The reality is, development is a process that takes time and requires patience. The few older heads that we've kept around are there to not only provide leadership and mentoring, but also to keep us from slipping down into a losing culture ala Melbourne/Carlton for 15 years.

 

[MRB37]

 

[Mileratkinsshow]

Nice balance of confidence in his abilities, good decision making, some arial strength, and hardness at the ball (his tackle of Viney). I’m getting the same vibes from the debut I got after Michaelaney’s first game. Would like him backed in for the rest of the season, please.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[cmndstab]

That's a quality highlights package for a first game. Very impressive debut, 16 touches and 6 marks playing off the backlines is great and he looked very confident at the level in what was an extremely high-pressure game.

 

[MsTopG]

That's a quality highlights package for a first game. Very impressive debut, 16 touches and 6 marks playing off the backlines is great and he looked very confident at the level in what was an extremely high-pressure game.

Nicks will probably find a way to get him out. He must get Sholl and Ned back in.

 

[John Who]

Nankervis’ debut reminds me a lot of Max in his first AFL game. Looks a solid type, composed, courageous and highly skilled.

I admit I haven’t been watching much SANFL games this year, but if his debut is a sign, then we have a regular AFL gamer here, and one with some X factor about him. Reckon he might do well as a mid next year, like a Soligo type. Must be picked as a regular from now on!

 

[conVINCEd]

Nice balance of confidence in his abilities, good decision making, some arial strength, and hardness at the ball (his tackle of Viney). I’m getting the same vibes from the debut I got after Michaelaney’s first game. Would like him backed in for the rest of the season, please.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

I thought the same re the Max similarities watching that package - super clean, quick and brave. Good kick, seems to have a great feel for the game immediately.

Seriously impressive debut.

[Vardy Magic is a star]

 

[radiojake]

[Vardy Magic is a star]

Does Vardy Magic either work for the club or post on big footy?

 

[conVINCEd]

Does Vardy Magic either work for the club or post on big footy?

He deserves to be paid.

 

[Play On Advantage]

What I liked most and found genuinely exciting was his ability to weave through a contest. In the first 55 seconds of highlights, he manages to evade pressure three times through explosive movements which is super promising.

 

[UcantCme]

What a great debut

Has AFL traits, poised, calm and a great decision maker

We must continue to play him for the rest of the season


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[George Kramer]

What a great debut

Has AFL traits, poised, calm and a great decision maker

We must continue to play him for the rest of the season


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

And to think he only got a game due to illness….

 

[MsTopG]

And to think he only got a game due to illness….

There's no way Nicks would have played him this year. Probably the same for Worrell as well unless Doedee goes down.

 

[beartoo]

Nankervis’ debut reminds me a lot of Max in his first AFL game. Looks a solid type, composed, courageous and highly skilled.

I admit I haven’t been watching much SANFL games this year, but if his debut is a sign, then we have a regular AFL gamer here, and one with some X factor about him. Reckon he might do well as a mid next year, like a Soligo type. Must be picked as a regular from now on!

Those of us that do watch SANFL have called for his inclusion for some time. It's the same as Worrall. Without an injury the boys would have languished in the 2s.

On SM-A115F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Crows4Flag]

Got to give Hamish credit here, looks very promising.

 

[StonesThrow]

If that's his standard then he's come on very quickly from what I saw early in the year. Looked very comfortable and definitely put a strong case forward to play the remaining games.

I wonder where his position will end up being?

 

[MRB37]

Does Vardy Magic either work for the club or post on big footy?

They post training footage/info often from West Lakes, so I suspect they may work for the Crows, or at the very least work/live very close to the oval.