Nicholas Naitanui (born 4 May 1990) is a professional Australian rules football player with the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League.

[edit] Early life

Naitanui was born in Sydney to Fijian parents, his mother Ateca and father Bola (from Suvavou a small village near Suva) just two years after they first migrated to Australia, along with twin-brother Mark.^[2]

Naitanui attended Governor Stirling Senior High School and played football there as well as for his club, the Swan Districts Colts (underage) side in the West Australian Football League. He grew up as a teenager playing football alongside Chris Yarran and Michael Walters, who both lived in the same street in Midvale and were later taken in the same AFL draft as Naitanui.^[3] Whilst he normally played in the ruck, he also was used on the wing or at full-back.^[4]

In the 2007 Under 18 AFL National Championships Naitanui he was dominant in the ruck for Western Australia where he was named best on ground in the final. Following his performance, he was hotly pursued by several AFL clubs. However he was born just a few days too late to qualify for the 2007 draft.^[5] He was named in the Under 18 All-Australian Team in both 2007 and 2008 and was awarded a scholarship with the Australian Institute of Sport to become a member of the AIS/AFL Academy Squad.^[6][7]

A much hyped Naitanui was invited to 2008 AFL Draft Camp and his results were impressive. He managed to equal the running vertical jump record previously set by Jared Brennan, but just fell short of Trent Croad's standing jump record. His sprint, agility and endurance tests were also impressive.

Many media commentators believed that Naitanui was in contention to be taken as the number 1 pick in the 2008 AFL Draft^[4]. However the Melbourne Football Club, who retained the pick had looked at Naitanui, but raised concerns about his skill level, in particular, his kicking and instead selected Victorian Jack Watts.

[edit] AFL career

Naitanui was taken at pick #2 overall in the 2008 AFL Draft by the West Coast Eagles.

As a highly rated future player by John Worsfold, Naitanui was given the number 9 guernsey, becoming the first West Coast Eagles player to wear the number since Brownlow Medalist and former captain Ben Cousins left the club at the end of the 2007 season. His first game at the senior level was on June 13, 2009 when he was named to play against Richmond in game 12 of the 2009 season.

His career suffered a setback, however, during pre-season training when he experienced knee soreness and had precautionary surgery.^[8]

Naitanui impressed enough in the WAFL in a game where he accumulated 15 possessions, 21 hit-outs, 4 goals and a spectacular mark, to earn his selection in the Round 12 against Richmond at Etihad Stadium.

His debut game impressed many, demonstrating his athletic ability with another spectacular mark as well as 3 kicks, 8 handballs, 3 marks and 7 hitouts.^[9] In his second game against premiers Hawthorn at Subiaco, Naitanui was quiet for the first three quarters but dazzled in the fourth, kicking three goals and leading his team to a come-from-behind win. ^[10].

[edit] References