Ian Nankervis


Ian James Nankervis is a former Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Football Club in the Victorian Football League. Nankervis played for Geelong for 17 seasons and was captain from 1978 to 1981, and again in 1983. Nankervis held the record of most senior level games for Geelong with 325 VFL games. Nankervis also represented Victoria at state level on 12 occasions.

VFL career

Nankervis was recruited from Barwon. Initially he played mainly as a forward pocket-rover, scoring a creditable 203 goals. He later developed into one of the finest back pockets in the VFL after then coach Rodney Olsson shifted him to that end of the ground
Nankervis was awarded the club's best and fairest award, the Carji Greeves Medal on three occasions in 1972, 1976 and 1977 and captained the team from 1978 until 1982. Nankervis wore a guernsey with the number 40 during his tenure at the club. His brother was fellow player Bruce Nankervis.
In 2001 he was named in the Geelong Football Club Team of the Century and in 2005 was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

Honours

Individual:
Ian Nankervis, after retiring from football, taught physical education and science at a high school level.