He was to join the inaugural Port Adelaide Power team in 1997 as it was admitted to the Australian Football League; however, Port Adelaide traded him and Andrew Balkwill to the Carlton Football Club for Brent Heaver in the 1996/97 offseason.
Injuries interrupted his early career but he became a regular in the side in 1999 and played in their losing Grand Final that year against the Kangaroos.
After 40 games for Carlton, Nelson was traded to Adelaide for David Gallagher at the conclusion of the 2001 season.
He was made captain of the club in 2004, and held that position outright until 2006; from 2007, he was co-captain with Jade Sheedy.
Nelson retired at the end of 2010,[1] after playing more than 200 games for the Double Blues in his SANFL career.