Nic Naitanui.....If not now.....when?

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Paganism

Paganism

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May 24, 2010
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Nic's now in his 6th season. His career average of 12 disposals per game, 2 marks, and under 1 goal is underwhelming at best. Thought he gave away 2 very clumsy free kicks in the last quarter against Carlton yesterday also. Do we get seduced by his ability to do the freakish things too much? For the hype he generates, the cold hard statistics are damning. He has to improve dramatically throughout this season IMO, or he may very well be looking for a new home.
 
Yeah he is over rated big time.
Yes he can do freakish stuff at times, but isn't a consistant player at all. Will get another gig somewhere (If WCE don't want him) likely to be with Melb or something as a crowd drawer rather than a team improver.
 

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He does very good things but just not enough of them, no preseason is big though.

Next year is make or break IMO and the back half of this year he would want to be doing something.
 
West Coast would be stupid to move him on. He's coming off no pre-season of course he's not going to be at his expected output right now, what did you expect for him to come back and dominate?

Also with Nicnat it's the little things he does that don't necessarily make the stat sheet but have a hell of a lot of an influence on the contest, he's always a threat and always one that the opposition coaches are wary about. Absolute freak when fit, example AA Ruckman in 2012.

His match winning pack mark and goal still hurt, does it OP?
 
He is so far over-rated it is ridiculous. Still can't believe he got AA over Jacobs. Even more laughable were the reports of a $5m/5 year contract pre-season. Does some great things very occasionally but for the remainder of the time he is very average and doesn't impact the game at all.
 
I highly doubt West Coast would entertain the idea of trading him. The people describing him as a great athlete rather than a great footballer are spot on in my opinion, at least on what he's produced so far. Feel a bit for Jack Watts and Melbourne, the media and the public have been bagging Melbourne over the years for not taking Naitanui ahead of Watts, but Naitanui hasn't exactly set the world on fire (despite what all the commentators will tell you) and it must have negatively affected Jack's confidence.
 
The when, IMO, is upon Cox's retirement. You obviously aren't going to push him into retirement so from where I sit things get awkward.

Nic Nat isn't able to spend productive periods up forward because he struggles overhead. You aren't dropping him or Cox so you get left with Cox playing forward (with Lycett as well oddly enough) and Nic Nat playing as a ruck rover.

Once Cox moves on Nic Nat will spend 70-80% of the match in the ruck (fitness dependent) and lift his clearance levels to what they were in 2011-2012.

The bigger problem for West Coast is that they're also trying to find game time for Lycett to keep him content and it's destroying their structure. They haven't got the strongest midfield so another rotation through there might be of more benefit.
 

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Bunk Moreland said:
His AA selection was a disgrace.

But I don't mind him. Big blokes take a while, god knows Ryder did. Should start to see what he's really capable of over the next few years.

But jeez, that AA selection... bloody hell
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He averaged the highest amount of SC points out of any ruckman.
 
Hipster Doofus said:
West Coast would be stupid to move him on. He's coming off no pre-season of course he's not going to be at his expected output right now, what did you expect for him to come back and dominate?

Also with Nicnat it's the little things he does that don't necessarily make the stat sheet but have a hell of a lot of an influence on the contest, he's always a threat and always one that the opposition coaches are wary about. Absolute freak when fit, example AA Ruckman in 2012.

His match winning pack mark and goal still hurt, does it OP?
Click to expand...
Oh please!!
I actually watch West Coast more closely now that a former captain, dual premiership and 300 game player of ours is coaching them
 
he is another one who needs to play ruck most of the game ...

west coast has 3 in one side that pretty much are ruckman only
 
scotty13 said:
Yeah he is over rated big time.
Yes he can do freakish stuff at times, but isn't a consistant player at all. Will get another gig somewhere (If WCE don't want him) likely to be with Melb or something as a crowd drawer rather than a team improver.
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Perfect addition to GWS.

Try living in the west where the media carries on about him. The guy will do two unbelievable things a game to fuel the hype, but is not a consistent contributor.
 
Paganism said:
Oh please!!
I actually watch West Coast more closely now that a former captain, dual premiership and 300 game player of ours is coaching them
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Oh, so 2014, when he's coming off an injury riddled 2013 and no preseason.

Righteo then.

Playing like shit, but anyone who argues against the quality of his 2012 production is having a laugh. Sure, he needs to step back up to that but the inverse expectations BF places on him in regards to downplaying what he's done is about as bad as the commentators box talking up his bright spark moments.
 
cammo78 said:
Would get rid of him while he still has high currency.
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Good call. A team like Sydney would be very interested as their ruck stocks are depleted after losing Mumford.
Would also draw in the crowds.
Imagine Tippet, Franklin and Nic Nat in the forward line.
 
He won't leave, but it wouldn't be the worst decision for WC to move him on, for the high currency he has. If WC are desperate to keep him, he needs to pick it up and show some consistency in the back half of the year and next year.

Maybe he can join Melbourne and pick 1 and 2 can play together. I imagine at that point the universe would implode on itself.
 
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