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[1] and captained the team from 1978 until 1982 (110 games).
Nankervis wore a guernsey with the number 40 during his tenure at the club.
[2] Individual: Ian Nankervis, after retiring from football, taught physical education and science at a high school level, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
[5] Ian Nankervis taught at Corio Technical School in Geelong during the 1970s and 1980s