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Naitanui slows, but still on rise

By Mr Dandalooa

Rising AFL star Nic Naitanui, who pundits labelled a Brownlow Medal early in the West Coast Eagles’ season, has struggled in recent weeks.

The 20-year-old, who had his birthday on May 4, has averaged just 11 possessions a game over the past five weeks as his team struggles to find any form.

The Sydney-born Naitanui, who has Fijian parents, was number 2 pick in the 2008 AFL Draft and is already mooted to be one of the best in the AFL despite his inexperience and young age.

In his first game at the senior level on June 13 last year, Naitanui was named to play against Richmond in game 12 and did not disappoint.

But the emerging star, like his team, has failed to find past five weeks as the Eagles look forward to their bye after the round 13 clash with the Bulldogs in Perth.

Eagles coach John Worsfold said the club was always looking at its young players and their workloads and that Naitanui was still only a youngster

“(He) still is just a second year player who’s carrying a big workload,” Worsfold said of the 20-year-old on Tuesday on AAP.

“So we are conscious of that and we’ll make those decisions as they arrive.

“We are aware we’ve got a bye coming up in four or five weeks, so we know that’s on the radar.

“I would expect he would be fine to get through to the bye.”

As a highly rated future player by Worsfold, Naitanui was given the illustrious number 9 guernsey, becoming the first West Coast Eagles player to wear the number since Brownlow Medallist and former captain Ben Cousins left the club at the end of the 2007 season.

While Cousins may have disgraced the number, it represented hope and ambition.

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.

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.

But he was honoured with a nomination for the NAB Rising Star in Round 4, this year in the Eagles’ win over the Essendon Bombers.

Naitanui dominated that game with 13 disposals, 5 tackles and 17 hitouts.