| Nic Naitanui | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Naitanui playing for West Coast in April 2018 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Nicholas Naitanui | ||
| Nickname | Nic Nat[1] | ||
| Born | (1990-05-04)4 May 1990 (age 35) Penrith,New South Wales | ||
| Original team | Swan Districts (WAFL) | ||
| Draft | No. 2,2008 national draft | ||
| Height | 202 cm (6 ft 8 in)[2] | ||
| Weight | 111 kg (245 lb) | ||
| Position | Ruck | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2008-2009 | Swan Districts | 23 (16) | |
| 2009–2023 | West Coast | 213 (112) | |
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2023. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources:AFL Tables,AustralianFootball.com | |||
Nicholas Naitanui (/ˌnæɪtəˈnuːi/; born 4 May 1990) is a formerAustralian rules footballer who played for theWest Coast Eagles in theAustralian Football League (AFL). He was born inSydney toFijian parents, and his family moved toPerth, Western Australia after his father's death. Growing up inMidvale, Naitanui attendedGovernor Stirling Senior High School, and played football for the Midvale Junior Football Club. After representingWestern Australia in the 2007 and 2008AFL Under 18 Championships, he debuted in 2008 for theSwan Districts Football Club in theWest Australian Football League (WAFL). Naitanui was drafted by West Coast with the second pick in the2008 National Draft.
Naitanui made his AFL debut for West Coast in round 12 of the2009 season, againstRichmond. He played ten games in his debut season, and received oneBrownlow Medal vote for a three-goal game againstHawthorn. In hissecond season, Naitanui played every game, primarily as a back-upruckman toDean Cox, taking over the position ofMark Seaby, who was traded the previous season. Having started the season as the favourite for theAFL Rising Star, Naitanui finished 5th overall. In the2011 season, he played 23 games, including his first finals matches, and was also nominated forMark of the Year. He was named in theAll-Australian team the following season, as the first-choice ruckman and was the first Fijian to ever be named in the All-Australian team.
Naitanui was born to Bola and Atetha Naitanui on 4 May 1990 inPenrith,New South Wales along with his twin brother, Mark. His parents, originally from Suvavou, a small village nearSuva, had emigrated to Australia fromFiji the previous year, with his two elder siblings, Georgie and Laisani, remaining in Fiji. His father died from cancer the year after Naitanui and his brother were born.[3] After his father's death, his mother moved the family toPerth, Western Australia, where her brother lived. His mother began working at Homeswest, apublic housing authority, and also volunteered at ahomeless shelter. Naitanui grew up inMidvale, nearMidland, and attended Midvale Primary School. He took up playing football at the age of nine, when he began playing for the Midvale Junior Football Club. As a child, he lived on Bushby Street in Midvale, along withShane Yarran,Michael Walters andChris Yarran, who would all go on to play AFL football.[4] Two other AFL players,David Ellard andJeff Garlett, also played with Naitanui, Walters, Chris Yarran and Shane Yarran at the Midvale Junior Football Club.[5]
Naitanui attendedGovernor Stirling Senior High School and played football there, as well as for theSwan Districts Colts (underage) side in theWest Australian Football League (WAFL). During his time in junior and colts football, he played predominantly in the ruck, however he also was used on the wing or at full-back.[6] Naitanui also playedbasketball as a junior for thePerry Lakes Hawks[7][8] and excelled attrack and field events, particularlyhigh jump. He was asked by recruiters to trial with American universities, but declined to do so.[9]
In the 2007 Under-18 AFL National Championships, Naitanui was dominant in the ruck for Western Australia, and was named Best on Ground in the final. Following his performance, he was hotly pursued by several AFL clubs. However, he was born a few days too late to qualify for the2007 AFL draft.[10] He was named in the Under-18All-Australian Team in both 2007 and 2008, and was awarded a scholarship with theAustralian Institute of Sport to become a member of the AIS/AFL Academy Squad.[11][12]
A much-hyped Naitanui was invited to the 2008 AFL Draft Camp and his results were impressive. He managed to equal the running vertical jump record previously set byJared Brennan, but fell short ofTrent 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 the2008 AFL draft.[6] TheMelbourne Football Club, who retained that pick, had looked at Naitanui, but instead selected VictorianJack Watts.
Naitanui was taken at pick No. 2 overall in the2008 AFL draft by theWest Coast Eagles. As a highly rated future player byJohn Worsfold, Naitanui was given the number 9 guernsey, becoming the first West Coast Eagles player to wear the number sinceBrownlow Medalist and former captainBen Cousins left the club at the end of the 2007 season. His first game at the senior level was on 13 June 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.[13]
Naitanui impressed enough in the WAFL in a game where he accumulated 15 possessions, 21 hit-outs, 4 goals and aspectacular 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.[14] 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.[15]
Naitanui was honoured with a nomination for theAFL Rising Star inround 4, 2010 in the West Coast Eagles win over theEssendon Bombers, a match where Naitanui dominated with 13 disposals, 5 tackles and 17 hitouts. Naitanui took out the West Coast's Rookie of the Year Award for the 2010 Season and finished fifth in the 2010 Club Champion Award.
In March 2012, aviral video of Naitanui performing aslam dunk at aPerth Wildcatsbasketball game received over 100,000 views onYouTube.[16]
On 17 September 2012 Naitanui earned his first All Australian Team nomination being named as the starting Ruckman.
On the Friday Night game againstNorth Melbourne in round 8, 2013, Naitanui took a memorable pack mark 30m out with seconds left on the clock. He proceeded to kick agoal after the siren to win the game by 2 points, becoming the 35th AFL player to do so.
Naitanui played his 100th AFL game in round 13, 2014, against theGold Coast Suns. West Coast won by three points.
In 2015 - after a strong season - Naitanui was named in the initial All Australian squad of 40.[17]
In round 21, during the 2016 season, Naitanui kicked a goal with 4 seconds remaining against theGWS Giants, winning the game for the Eagles. He ruptured his ACL in the following game, and missed the rest of the 2016 season.
Naitanui missed the entire 2017 season. Naitanui was in contention to play his first game for the season in the first semi-final againstGreater Western Sydney, but did not play.[18]
During the 2018 season, Naitanui was suspended for a week following a tackle on Port Adelaide'sKarl Amon.[19] The decision was heavily criticised by the AFL media and past players where it was believed he was punished for being the stronger player in the tackle.[20]
In round 17 of the 2018 season, after 15 games back from an injury to his leftanterior cruciate ligament, Naitanui landed awkwardly in a contest just before half time of the match against theCollingwood Magpies, suffering the same injury to his right anterior cruciate ligament. He was expected to miss 10–12 months of football after areconstruction.[21] West Coast went on to win the2018 AFL premiership in his absence.
After nearly a year out of the game, Naitanui returned to AFL football in round 15 against Hawthorn, after playing just one game with limited match time for the WAFL Eagles team.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic put a hold at the start of the season, Naitanui had his first full season in 4 years and received all-Australian honours as starting ruckman. On 19 October 2020, Naitanui received his first John Worsfold medal as the clubs best and fairest. At the end of 2021 he won the John Worsfold medal for best and fairest. He also made the All-Australian team on the bench.[22]
In August 2023, Naitanui announced his retirement from the AFL.[23] He had not played in any games in the2023 season and had played in just 8 games in the2022 season.
In August 2022, Naitanui became engaged to partner Brittany Bown.[24] In October that year, the couple welcomed their first child, a son.[24] The couple were expecting a daughter in November 2023.[25]
In September 2024, Naitanui became the number one ticket holder of thePerth Wildcats.[26][27]
Naitanui features in the 2021fly-on-the-wall documentary TV seriesMaking Their Mark, which showed the impact of theCOVID-19 pandemic on several AFL clubs, players, and staff.[28][29] He andEddie Betts were filmed almost continuously, with other players featured includingStephen Coniglio andRory Sloane, along with several coaches and other staff associated with the clubs.[30]
G | Goals | K | Kicks | D | Disposals | T | Tackles |
B | Behinds | H | Handballs | M | Marks | H/O | Hit-outs |
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | K | H | D | M | T | H/O | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | H/O | ||||
| 2009 | West Coast | 9 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 83 | 98 | 10 | 39 | 152 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 8.3 | 9.8 | 1.0 | 3.9 | 15.2 |
| 2010 | West Coast | 9 | 22 | 9 | 9 | 94 | 163 | 257 | 31 | 74 | 366 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 4.3 | 7.4 | 11.7 | 1.4 | 3.4 | 16.6 |
| 2011 | West Coast | 9 | 23 | 18 | 10 | 120 | 179 | 299 | 50 | 88 | 457 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 5.2 | 7.8 | 13.0 | 2.2 | 3.8 | 19.9 |
| 2012 | West Coast | 9 | 22 | 24 | 14 | 116 | 171 | 287 | 66 | 75 | 543 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 5.3 | 7.8 | 13.0 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 24.7 |
| 2013 | West Coast | 9 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 56 | 71 | 127 | 25 | 39 | 279 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 5.1 | 6.5 | 11.5 | 2.3 | 3.5 | 25.4 |
| 2014 | West Coast | 9 | 20 | 9 | 7 | 85 | 164 | 249 | 31 | 77 | 438 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 4.3 | 8.2 | 12.5 | 1.6 | 3.9 | 21.9 |
| 2015 | West Coast | 9 | 23 | 17 | 13 | 132 | 136 | 268 | 33 | 82 | 782 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 5.7 | 6.0 | 11.7 | 1.4 | 3.6 | 34.0 |
| 2016 | West Coast | 9 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 81 | 106 | 187 | 35 | 42 | 517 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 5.4 | 7.0 | 12.5 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 34.5 |
| 2017 | West Coast | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2018 | West Coast | 9 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 82 | 81 | 163 | 25 | 64 | 459 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 10.9 | 1.7 | 4.3 | 30.6 |
| 2019 | West Coast | 9 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 37 | 25 | 62 | 7 | 17 | 146 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 7.4 | 5.0 | 12.4 | 1.4 | 3.4 | 29.2 |
| 2020 | West Coast | 9 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 109 | 83 | 192 | 13 | 40 | 496 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 6.4 | 4.9 | 11.3 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 29.2 |
| 2021 | West Coast | 9 | 22 | 3 | 5 | 154 | 181 | 335 | 34 | 65 | 687 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 7.0 | 8.2 | 15.2 | 1.6 | 3.0 | 31.2 |
| Career | 205 | 110 | 80 | 1081 | 1443 | 2524 | 360 | 702 | 5322 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 5.3 | 7.0 | 12.3 | 1.8 | 3.4 | 26.0 | ||
