Is Nic Naitanui ridiculously overrated?

[Rough_Edges]

Has played an above average role in about 3 matches this year with one of them being in the pre-season.

And the commentators act as if they have never seen a black fella play football before, raving on and on about his ruck taps, his 'efforts', his attempted marks, not to mention his "leap".

Sure his an exciting talent but the way a lot go on about him it's as if his a chance for the Brownlow this year.

Was comfortably outplayed by McEvoy today and Lenny won us the game when he was going head to head with him for some reason.

 

[Neville Bartos]

Like Rioli, he makes really average stuff look AWESOME! It's that ability that shows a glimpse of what someone will be able to do when they find consistency in their game (which usually comes after 4-5 pre-seasons and 100 games).

No doubt NicNat will be a star but the constant comparisons with other players in his draft is just stupid. Watts will still be a better player.

 

[kfleong2000]

I think the media hype is a bit over the top to be honest, and many of my fellow Eagles fans will think the same.

He's still only 19 FFS. Will produce a few good games, but putting in quality games week in, week out will only occur at least three years down the track.

 

[jinny1]

it becuz he' black...and they are freakishly known to be freakishly athletic...

i know a couple Africans and they're very talented in sports

btw turned 20 this month

 

[kreuze_missile]

He is exciting to watch but his impact on most games to date has been rather minimal. Still, best back-up ruckman in the AFL right now.

 

[NTRabbit]

He is exciting to watch but his impact on most games to date has been rather minimal. Still, best back-up ruckman in the AFL right now.

I think Todd Goldstein would beg to differ

 

[master bate]

He is exciting to watch but his impact on most games to date has been rather minimal. Still, best back-up ruckman in the AFL right now.

Your bloke goes ok and if Mitch Clark can get back to just being second ruck then he wins.

 

[r dub 19]

People get confused. The hype around him is for what he will do in the future, not what he does now.

 

[Selggad]

Gerard's comments to day were interesting. nicnat had made a meal of leading from the goal square which BT was discussing with some enthusiasm. Gerard observed giving nicnat simple tasks i.e. taking the ruck knock in the centre square or playing out of the square (simple in terms of requiring football nouse) were the best things for him at the moment while he gets more understanding of the game. the big question is whether he will develop sufficient footy nouse, though you would think that will come with experience.

 

[raskolnikov]

Dumb thread. NicNat is what, 20? Players his size don't mature til 22 or 23. He will have good games but won't be consistent for a couple of years.

 

[Donakebab]

He is exciting to watch but his impact on most games to date has been rather minimal. Still, best back-up ruckman in the AFL right now.

Ryder and Goldstein are both ahead of him.

 

[mehow2g]

it becuz he' black...and they are freakishly known to be freakishly athletic...

i know a couple Africans and they're very talented in sports

btw turned 20 this month

He's Fijian.



Sure hes not playing games and dominating week in and week out but the highlights show that he isnt overrated.

The fact that hes shown what he can do soo early in his career makes him one of the most exciting prospects.

 

[Admiral Byng]

Yes and no. Like everyone else has said, he is isn't there yet, but he has given a few glimpses of what he is capable of when he gets it right.

 

[lards]

I think Todd Goldstein would beg to differ

So would Paddy Rayder

 

[LLOYDownSEWELL]

He is exciting to watch but his impact on most games to date has been rather minimal. Still, best back-up ruckman in the AFL right now.

Uhhhhhh......David Hille?

 

[Sandi2Palmer]

Dumb thread. NicNat is what, 20? Players his size don't mature til 22 or 23. He will have good games but won't be consistent for a couple of years.

The way some bang on about him is rediculous though. He will be somewhere between good and awesome in a couple of years. Right now he's in development mode.

 

[lewigie]

Had a bad game today.

However, now Cox is the number one ruck, he now has to find another role.

The only other role really, is a forward role. So he now has to play a KP role, which (seeing as he's played under 20 games) he hasn't really accustomed to.

 

[LLOYDownSEWELL]

So would Paddy Rayder

Paddy Ryder is Essendons no.1 Ruckman.

 

[Tas]

I think like Rioli, he does some of the freaky things that gets a lot of attention but outside of the highlight reel there isn't a whole lot of meat and potato play, it is either on or off.

That consistency may come with age and experience. He definitely does a lot of exciting things and I think when he is on he can break games open, he is definitely not at a consistent level yet but people get optimistic about what the future might unfold.

My concern for him is similar to when guys like Goodes and McKernan were in the ruck, lighter frames in the ruck tend to wear and tear a lot more than the bigger solid frames and I am not sure if bulking up will hurt him as his athletic ability seems to be his major asset.

 

[Tas]

Paddy Ryder is Essendons no.1 Ruckman.

Isn't Hille #1?

 

[stui magpie]

the thing that irritates me is the assumption that he's new to footy. He's been playing for years so as far as footy IQ goes, he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

he can do the spectacular stuff uncommonly well. he can do things that few if any other players can do. For that, he gets a lot of attention and comment based on the potential if he does that more often.

He does the common place stuff badly. Any other player who averaged that few possessions per game would be on the rack of public opinion or playing in the 2's. Nic is lauded for his 30 second cameos.

The kid is athletically gifted, no doubt, but the gap between his best and worse is a chasm. He needs to learn how to do the basics well, cos at the moment he's all icing and no cake.

 

[LLOYDownSEWELL]

Isn't Hille #1?

Considering Ryder has started in the middle every game this season, I'd say No.

 

[Philhawk]

He's 19.

 

[Effes]

So what's the go with the rising star then? Should he/will he win it?

Are the media so in love with him that they'll give him the award even if he doesn't deserve it?

 

[Ochre]

Has played an above average role in about 3 matches this year with one of them being in the pre-season.

our best player in two games this year, and top 3 for us in two others

not including pre season