Side note: might need more than two blokes if they want to chair him off.
Nic Naitanui Retires
- Thread starter Biggie
- Start date
- Tagged users None
- Mar 11, 2015
- 2,147
- 4,823
- AFL Club
- West Coast
Loved watching this man play the game, and an absolute legend giving his time to fans, especially kids! A 100% privilege to have watched him strut his stuff.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Manbearpig77
Club Legend
- Dec 12, 2020
- 2,203
- 2,360
- AFL Club
- West Coast
Absolute legend of the club and the marquee player of this generation of Eagles.
His time was up, but he'll always be an absolute star.
The people (mostly freo fans) who called him overrated, simply didn't understand football.
So sad he never got a flag.
Thanks for everything Nic.
His time was up, but he'll always be an absolute star.
The people (mostly freo fans) who called him overrated, simply didn't understand football.
So sad he never got a flag.
Thanks for everything Nic.
- Jun 7, 2015
- 1,289
- 4,903
- AFL Club
- West Coast
Thank you for your service, king.
In the past 15 years, we have Nic Nat. Before 2007, it was Chris Judd. In the 90s, we had Peter Matera.
What are we going to have in the next 10 years?
What are we going to have in the next 10 years?
A privilege and a pleasure, thanks for the great memories Nic Nat, will there ever be another?
A great masthead and role model. Deserved so much more but footy is a cruel mistress.
Was inevitable...but now lets get on with it and rebuild this sh*tshow?
Perhaps Simmo next?
A great masthead and role model. Deserved so much more but footy is a cruel mistress.
Was inevitable...but now lets get on with it and rebuild this sh*tshow?
Perhaps Simmo next?
Harley Reid for a starter but surprise draft pick ups will come when you least expect .
- Mar 29, 2019
- 14,227
- 20,362
- AFL Club
- Fremantle
- Other Teams
- San Francisco 49ers, Swan Districts.
A legend of the game, you all should be very proud of the player he was for you guys, for years if you wanted to show someone new to the game how amazing it was, chances are you'd show them some Naitanui highlights, very likeable person and one of the more down to Earth men in the competition, you'd hope he stays on as a ruck coach for you guys to help mentor Williams more.
Yes remember that day as well - what a legend - can remember Campbell Brown trying to run down Nic - what a waste of time that was lol. Back then Nic was like a panther the way he ran down opposing players - it was a sight to see. He will be missed that’s for sure and a shame he wasn‘t part of the 2018 premiership team as he deserved it. The body can be a bummer sometimes!
Amazing player to watch, gutted he never got his flag. Other teams completely changed their setups just to nullify his tapwork and dominance in the middle
Has made the right call and done the right thing by the club. Well done big man
Has made the right call and done the right thing by the club. Well done big man
- Mar 25, 2003
- 35,681
- 28,345
Just an absolute gun. A very very unique skillset. Gutting that he missed the flag, but without him that year we were unlikely to finish top two and quite possibly outside of the top four, so still had a huge positive influence on our quest to win that cup.
Pwani Magharibi
Debutant
Today is such a sad day, even if it was inevitable. Nic was my favourite footballer ever and by some distance. I was at Bassendean watching him the week before his AFL debut and have thoroughly enjoyed his career ever since. What a privilege to have had him as an Eagle.
His ruckwork was a thing of beauty. It was always exciting watching him prowl around the centre circle, ready to explode into the air. His clearance work, his high marking, all of it was superb.
He is one of the few players I would have gone to watch play regardless of which team he was on. Getting to see him play live less often was one of the biggest downsides to us leaving WA in 2012.
A pox on anyone who posts anything negative about him today. So many critics spent so much time on what Nic wasn't they missed enjoying the amazing strengths he did have.
Some say our 2018 flag without him in the side shows he wasn't essential. To which I say (with all respect to Lycett and Vardy, who had great games in the GF) there's no way we would have won the string of games we did earlier in the year that put us into a top two spot from which to have a chance at the flag without Nic's ruck dominance. When he was up and about he lifted the whole team and was one of the most influential players in the league.
If life was fair, he'd have a Premiership medal. If more of his teammates had played with his determination in the three years following the 2018 flag, we may well have won another one.
We'll never know what he may achieved without ACLs ruining the peak of his career, but what he did achieve was still remarkable. Returning from two ACLs to be a dominant ruckman, with AAs and club B&Fs in 2020 and 2021 was magnificent.
Thanks for everything Nic and best wishes for life after footy. You gave plenty of joy to this fan.
I hope he isn't lost to the game, or indeed to the club. I'm sure he has much to offer, in coaching, ambassadorial work or publicity. Alternatively, he'd be a big upgrade on nearly everyone in the TV commentary team.
Now I'm going to grieve for a while.
His ruckwork was a thing of beauty. It was always exciting watching him prowl around the centre circle, ready to explode into the air. His clearance work, his high marking, all of it was superb.
He is one of the few players I would have gone to watch play regardless of which team he was on. Getting to see him play live less often was one of the biggest downsides to us leaving WA in 2012.
A pox on anyone who posts anything negative about him today. So many critics spent so much time on what Nic wasn't they missed enjoying the amazing strengths he did have.
Some say our 2018 flag without him in the side shows he wasn't essential. To which I say (with all respect to Lycett and Vardy, who had great games in the GF) there's no way we would have won the string of games we did earlier in the year that put us into a top two spot from which to have a chance at the flag without Nic's ruck dominance. When he was up and about he lifted the whole team and was one of the most influential players in the league.
If life was fair, he'd have a Premiership medal. If more of his teammates had played with his determination in the three years following the 2018 flag, we may well have won another one.
We'll never know what he may achieved without ACLs ruining the peak of his career, but what he did achieve was still remarkable. Returning from two ACLs to be a dominant ruckman, with AAs and club B&Fs in 2020 and 2021 was magnificent.
Thanks for everything Nic and best wishes for life after footy. You gave plenty of joy to this fan.
I hope he isn't lost to the game, or indeed to the club. I'm sure he has much to offer, in coaching, ambassadorial work or publicity. Alternatively, he'd be a big upgrade on nearly everyone in the TV commentary team.
Now I'm going to grieve for a while.
Going to miss these 'oh shite' moments:
Nic has been my favourite player to watch of all time, bar none.
He's the heart and soul of this club. Completely irreplaceable.
Everything that can be said about the great man either has been said already or will be soon, so I'll simply say; Thank you for everything Nic, the game will never be the same without you.
He's the heart and soul of this club. Completely irreplaceable.
Everything that can be said about the great man either has been said already or will be soon, so I'll simply say; Thank you for everything Nic, the game will never be the same without you.
One of the most unbelievable players I have ever seen on the football field and he was able to do things that not a single other AFL player his size has been able to. It's incredibly sad that we won't get to see him hold up a premiership cup or get a farewell game but we should feel grateful to be WCE fans during the reign of Nic Nat.
I've watched all of west coast's champions over the generations... I started young, but yeah I'm getting on in years... maybe I am getting a bit caught up in the moment... for the context of what I am about to say... AT HIS PEAK, I would select him first above all else... he impacted games THAT much, he papered over the cracks of a VERY ordinary midfield between 2009 and 2015... if injury didn't cruel him, a clear #1, and despite 2 ACL's, still top 5.
Love ya big fella, I'm sure we will see you around the club imparting wisdom to the next generation.
Love ya big fella, I'm sure we will see you around the club imparting wisdom to the next generation.
Remember being there for that game, Campbell Brown trying top bully Nic Nat in the Goal square and a young Nic Nat laughing at him and pushing him away like a flea
Just saw that pic on twitter (or whatever its called now)
Nice cropping work, doubt Barra agrees though
I think we have to back the truck up about Harley Reid at the moment.
Desperately want him at the club, but all of this talk about generational talent from a guy who hasn't even had a game yet is a over the top.
The media has gone ballistic over him.
