Opinion
Mesmerising to witness: How Nic Naitanui changed the game forever
Brendan Foster
ContributorNic Naitanui’s first goal against Hawthorn in 2009, in a torrential downpour with the game on the line, illustrated why he would go on to become a once-in-a-generation player.
Hawks player Jordan Lewis thought he had plenty of time to kick the ball deep out of defence when a cat-like Naitanui pounced from nowhere, smothering the ball before gracefully dancing around two opponents to score the goal.
Naitanui before round 12, 2021. Credit: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
It was an extraordinary effort from any player, let alone a 201-centimetre giant. But he wasn’t done there.
The skinny teenager with his trademark dreadlocks, who finally announced his retirement on Monday, ended up kicking three goals in the last quarter to lead his team to a 20-point win over the Hawks.
We didn’t know it at the time, but Naitanui was about to change the game forever.
He was also about to become a marketers’ dream and one of the most recognisable faces in Western Australia.
At the peak of his powers, the champion ruckman was arguably one of the most damaging players in the AFL. The silky way he could palm the ball to his teammates was simply mesmerising to witness.
And the athletic big man’s ferocious attack on the ball and his freakish agility across the ground bamboozled opponents half his size.
At his best, he was almost unstoppable.
If former Geelong champion ruckman Polly Farmer revolutionised the game with his towering handballs then Naitanui transformed the AFL with his explosive athleticism.
On Monday, the 33-year-old announced he was retiring because his ongoing Achilles tendon injury meant it was going to impact his powerful leap.
Naitanui has been plagued by injuries. Credit: Daniel Carson/AFL Media/Getty Images
Despite having a year to run on his contract, he failed to play in 2023 and finishes on 213 games. He was barely on the park in 2022 because of his bad knees.
The star ruckman said he explored every avenue to get his body right.
“Being a power athlete who has relied on my ability to jump throughout my career this injury was probably going to take that away from me,” he said.
“I am also looking at a lengthy rehabilitation from my latest surgery and there are no guarantees of making it back to AFL level even if everything goes to plan. I have given it a lot of thought in the last few weeks and this is the best decision for the club, myself and my family.”
Recruited with pick No.2 in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft, he provided countless highlights during his stellar career.
There was the sensational pack mark against North Melbourne in round 8 in 2013 when he coolly went back and kicked the match-winning goal after the siren to send the crowd into delirious rapture.
The snapped goal from the boundary throw-in against Greater Western Sydney in 2016 to win the match with seconds to play.
But the three-time All-Australian had endured a horror run of injuries with two knee reconstructions as well as the nagging Achilles injury that would ultimately end his playing days.
His second ACL injury meant the star ruckman had to deal with the heartbreak of missing West Coast’s 2018 premiership win.
Naitanui, round 12, 2021. Credit: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
The two-time John Worsfold Medallist has been unfairly criticised over his playing career for his inability to take grabs around the ground.
But when he did show off his aerial acrobatics his bulky frame seemed to defy physics.
In 2015, he took Mark of the Year after launching his body over Callum Sinclair and Mark Blicavs to take one of the most spectacular speccys ever seen at Subiaco Oval.
Ironically, he was awarded eight Mark of the Round nominations.
It didn’t matter that Naitanui wasn’t racking up marks because no other ruckmen in the AFL had a bigger influence on games when he was controlling the centre bounces.
It’s no coincidence the Eagles’ on-field success was largely due to his dominance not only in the middle but around the ground.
West Coast Eagles Coach Adam Simpson said Naitanui had been one of the most influential players of his generation.
“Sadly, he is the third club great to retire in the last three weeks” he said.
“In some respects, it is the end of an era and we will certainly miss Nic. In the last couple of years when he has been limited in the number of games he has played, his impact around the group has remained significant.
Naitanui, round 2, 2021. Credit: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
“There have been few ruckmen in history to have a bigger impact on the game, and he will always hold a special place in the history of the club.”
Statisticians and experts will squabble for years to come whether Naitanui is one of the greatest ruckmen ever.
But when the sentimentality and blather settle down, it’s my bet he will be regarded as not only that but as one of the most unique players of all time.
We will never see another Nic Nat.
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