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

[Jamurp]

He could do without the media hype, that's not his fault. I think he'll improve over the next few years though, hopefully our Watts can do the same.

 

[Bardo State]

Naitanui was so far easily the best ruckman in 2012 it was ridiculous. And now we're going to write off a 23 (?) year old ruckman based off his form coming back from injury when most ruckmen peak in their late 20s and into their 30s?

Give him a full season and pre-season. His tap work is exceptional, his clearance work is exceptional.

I would give up a hell of a lot to have him at Hawthorn.

 

[Blueboiiz]

Scott Lucas is being rather brutal in his assessment of him on SEN.

Was extremely harsh.

 

[refresh]

It is much easier without emotional attachment but WCE would have a better shot at the title if they traded NicNat to a club that would overpay for the hype ( Gold Coast or GWS) for a quality young mid (say O'Meara or Coniglio) plus an early first rounder.

Their forward line and back line are sound but the midfield is nothing but vanilla.

 

[Hot Pocket]

We know, Melbourne took that absolute spud Jack Watts over AA ruckman Naitanui, get over it.

Watts is a decent bloke at least.

 

[clivenator26]

Easy target. He deserved his AA spot. People love seeing others fail, there is crazy hype about him but the guy is a freak and seems a grounded young man too..

 

[whatwhatsaywhat]

Reports earlier in the year were that he (or his manager) was expecting his next contract to be $1.1m per annum for the next 5 seasons.

As nice a guy as he is and as intermittently exciting as he is to watch, surely he's not worth anything like that?


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[Underdog]

It is much easier without emotional attachment but WCE would have a better shot at the title if they traded NicNat to a club that would overpay for the hype ( Gold Coast or GWS) for a quality young mid (say O'Meara or Coniglio) plus an early first rounder.

Their forward line and back line are sound but the midfield is nothing but vanilla.

Fit and in form, he lifts the entire midfield unit substantially. To clarify, he lifts the unit well above the performance of when 6 time All Australian Dean Cox is in there. A fit Nic Naitanui is THAT important to our side.

Without a doubt we need a gun midfielder or two, but not at the expense of the player who's proven to lift the whole midfield.

 

[Paganism]

Sooooo you HAVE only watched 2013/14 games.

Righteo...

I would be genuinely staggered, and even a tad frightened, if that actually made sense to you or anyone else in here

 

[VFL13]

it's typical hysteria from AFL big wigs to have a player that isn't full blown aussie and try to make him a superstar when it isn't there.

 

[im_a_lazy_sod]

Almost needs a full season off to get his body right. Obviously is carrying something (Simpson even said this after the Geelong game) and needs to let it heal. Playing in the ruck every week (usually as #1 ruck) and be expected to do the impossible or unthinkable just makes it harder for him to reach those sort of heights.

Still think he is overrated, but is hampered big time by being played when not right

 

[quotemokc]

And a terrible bloke, probably.

Oh he is, he once "naked manned" a 60 year old woman

 

[wild side]

I think he is a very nice fella, actually. He is overhyped because of the club he represents, and because of their sponsors. He must be on a contract with the West Australian, coz he is in it at leats once or twice a week during the footy season.
Overrated, but I'd still have him.

 

[VFL13]

Let me guess

You're one of those people who call Rioli lazy?

prick

no chance, big fan of rioli

 

[VFL13]

but I am still a prick as you assume

 

[lmach]

Watts is a decent bloke at least.

If you're into arrogant FIGJAM's, then yeah, Watts is a nice bloke.

Ever actually met Naitanui or heard him talk (you obviously haven't)? One of the nicest blokes you'll meet, but you're too blinded by your jealousy to see that.

 

[lmach]

I would be genuinely staggered, and even a tad frightened, if that actually made sense to you or anyone else in here

He dominated games in 2012, therefore you didn't watch him in 2012. Really not hard to comprehend if you have a brain.

 

[Bennett.]

It's ok, we will play him into form and he'll be top shelf again.

 

[The Joker]

**** no should WCE get rid of him.

The one thing that gets me is why is he even playing rite now, why wasn't his preseason extended into the season and then bring him back in round 10 or so. Simpson has said he isn't fit, yet continues to play him. It's clear he needs to get his body right.

 

[NewMelbournian]

People have different expectations for different players. Everyone knows what he can do so people want him to be special week in and week out. Whether that's fair or unfair is a whole other matter. But I don't think it's too extreme to have expected more from him by now.

 

[Leatherpoizoned]

Seems like a lovely bloke. Will be a West Coast player for life. I think there is genuine debate over his 2012 AA (but that could be said every AA selection ever). He can be horribly over-hyped (not his fault). Will be a very good West Coast player for the next decade. Shouldn't be playing now.

 

[Kwality]

If you took the time to read carefully, I said it in response to being accused of starting this thread out of resentment at Nic's after the siren goal against us last year. I was tring to stress the point that it is not about that at all, I actually would like to see him dominate a game

So why the title of the thread? No one would argue he's had the sort of start to a season that any onballer without a pre season would have.

 

[Tas]

Not sure why he is playing atm, with Cox and Lycett they have the ruck covered and he is struggling to have an impact, let him get his fitness in the WAFL.

 

[Lynch's Glove]

For a start, the bloke needs to show some emotion on the ground. He doesn't appear to get riled-up, nor does he seem alert to what's going on around him, so he doesn't really have an effect on the team mindset. If he'd just show some spirit, that would be a start.

Secondly, he needs to get into position (much like Sandi for Freo), when West Coast are attacking from defense, because at this point he's jogging around like a lost puppy out there. He looks lazy, unresponsive and is unwilling to get to a contest.

Finally, Nic's skills at the moment are shocking. A bloke like that should be taking many more marks and hitting more targets than he is.

And there's no excuses either (like he didn't have a pre-seaon or he's injured etc etc). That's bulltish. He's either game ready or he's not. So if he's out there on game day, he's being paid to perform and serve the club, so he should either perform, or tell the selection panel he's not up to it.

Nic needs to bloody-well pull his finger out.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Poor man's Cyril Rioli.