Adelaide halfback Jake Soligo will make his 100th appearance when the Crows take on Gold Coast at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
The Victorian player has enjoyed a meteoric rise since being selected by the Crows with pick 36 in the 2021 AFL Draft, establishing himself as a key member of the Adelaide side over the past five seasons.
To mark Soligo’s milestone, best friends and teammates Josh Rachel and Luke Nankervis sat down to reflect on his journey, sharing stories and knowledge about the player and the man he has become.
Drafted alongside Soligo in 2021, the trio spent most of their time in South Africa, forming a strong bond both on and off the field from the start.
“It’s been a great journey for Jake, Luke and I,” Rachel said.
“When we were first drafted we were all put in a van to go from Melbourne to Adelaide, we couldn’t fly due to Covid but from the start all three of us were focused on training and working hard so the bond developed quite quickly.
“Luke moved in with Jake for the first five or six months and then I joined later in the year and since then I think we have seen a lot of growth from Salt as a person and as a leader.
“It’s a fantastic achievement to have played 100 games in his fifth year, which just shows his professionalism and consistency.”
Nankervis said watching Soligo’s development first-hand made reaching the milestone even more special as they have been on this journey together since arriving at the club in 2021.
“It was love at first sight as soon as we got on the bus… No, it was quite awkward at first,” Nankervis said.
“I still remember one or two weeks into training, all three of us would get ready for training together and you could see each other’s personalities starting to come out and we started to feel comfortable with each other, so that’s when our friendship really started to develop and everyone’s quirks and weirdness came out.
“We’ve actually been best friends since then, so it’ll be really exciting to just run away there with him and have his whole family there.
“I still can’t believe he’s already played 100 games. It feels like we just got here yesterday. It’ll be great to see his family’s reaction and hopefully he’ll do well.”
About the “quirks” of Soligo
While Soligo is known for his professionalism and consistency on the field, Rachel and Nankervis revealed there is another side to him at home, where a few quirky habits have become the stuff of housemate legend.
“We did some fun things where he had to take a nap at a certain time,” Rachel said.
“It was just last year when we were messing around before a game and something went on the roof and Nank climbed on the roof and woke Soli up from his sleep and he got really angry at Nank.
“He would also make this signature sweet chilli pasta dish, which was boiled pasta, and then he would put a big bottle of sweet chilli sauce that you would normally use for dim sim and hash browns, and he would add a little cheese on top.”
Nankervis said Soligo had a pre-game ritual that he never missed.
“He’s very meticulous in his preparation,” Nankervis said.
“It’s probably one of his quirks: he has to pack his bag carefully the night before every game.”
Underrated Soccer Attributes
Nankervis and Rachel have seen first-hand what makes Soligo such a valuable teammate and say there are traits of him that often go unnoticed.
“He actually has a really good contested grade,” Nankervis said.
“He uses his body very smartly. He’s built like a refrigerator, but he actually moves quite well.”
Rachel said Soligo’s ability to play whatever role the team needs is what sets him apart.
“I think people miss the versatility of it,” Rachel said.
“He was drafted as a midfielder, but he played different roles: in the center, on the wing, as a half-forward.
“I think his ability to just adapt is what helps him be consistent in how he was able to play 100 games pretty quickly.”
More than just a teammate
Away from football, Soligo genuinely cares about others, Rachel and Nankervis said.
The pair highlighted the relationships he has built at the Club and the quiet influence he has on those around him.
“He has a lot of relationships with a lot of people at the club, from our first years to some of the older guys, and I think it started with him living with Reilly O’Brien,” Rachel said.
“He was never the most outgoing person when he was first drafted into the army, but since he’s come here, he’s always calling the boys, asking the boys to come over for breakfast, or if we’re going out for something like going to the movies, or if someone just needs a chat, he’s always there.
“The good story about Jake is that he does a lot of things, like catching up with his sponsor players or kids who are at a bit of a disadvantage, and he’s not one to advertise it and tell everyone about it, or he does it to be recognized.
“He does all these kind things behind the scenes with all his heart, and I think that’s something really special.”
Nankervis agreed.
“He’s just a really cute egg, he can be a bit of a pest, but I would say he’s just the cutest of the group,” Nankervis said.
“He also helps a lot of people behind the scenes. He does charity work and spends time with children with disabilities and things like that, so he’s definitely very compassionate.”
“He’s always willing to do something, whether it’s a bike ride or just a walk or whatever.
“He’s a terrible storyteller, though.”
How he did this year
Soligo had a difficult start to the season, missing a training match in February after it was discovered he had an irregular heartbeat.
He successfully underwent a minimally invasive heart procedure (cardiac ablation) to correct the problem and quickly returned to training.
After gaining fitness and playing in the first five games of 2026, an ankle injury suffered in the Crows’ Gather Round victory over Carlton forced him out of action again.
He returned through the SANFL before being selected for the AFL squad for Showdown 59 and has played in every game since.
Rachel said the boys were proud of the way Soligo dealt with the setbacks he faced earlier in the year.
“He’s done a lot of work which has helped him be consistent and play a lot of good football, but there were times when we were chatting to him earlier this year and it got quite scary,” Rachel said.
“He didn’t really know how bad it was or if it would affect his future in the future.
“It’s just a credit to him, he had a pretty disrupted pre-season but he still came back to play in the first round and then was in and out of form, but for him to just come back and dominate the SANFL and show why he’s one of our best players was amazing.
“You just saw at the weekend (against West Coast) that he can play some really good football and it was great to see him, especially after he got back into really good shape.”
Rachelle also recalled celebrating with Soligo after he scored the first goal against the Eagles last week.
“Really, all three of us, if we can help each other score a goal, or even when Nank comes out of the baseline to score a couple of goals, that really excites us all,” Rachel said.
“I think being a young group we have a lot of energy and we bring it when we need to.
“Jake, having scored that goal, which was a very important goal, showed his strength and composure to come back and do it.
“I was just delighted with him.”
You got it in Nankervis Reaching 100 games was a reflection of Soligo’s tireless work ethic and consistency.
“He’s so dedicated to his craft and so attentive to everything he does,” Nankervis said.
“I think it served him well and he was able to play some really good football in over 100 games, which is quite scary to think about.
“Everything went so quickly and I’m so happy for Soli.”
Adelaide take on the Gold Kop at Adelaide Oval on Saturday at 7.40pm.
Tickets available Here.