The pressure on Nick Naitanui

[Whispering_Jack 28,010]

If we can get Warnock in the PSD draft, i say we seriously look at Watts.

You have to take into account he has grown up playing basketball as his no.1 or equal favourite sport with footy, which means with his upside once he is fully dedicated to footy should be enormous.

Of course no individual is ever going to be a team's saviour. This is a team game and the saving of the Melbourne Football Club is dependent on several on field and off field factors. Our on field team is in its development phase and there are a number of players around in the 23 and under age group who we will be looking to improve rapidly over the next 2 - 3 years. A couple of good trades and some good draft selections will help but one kid, no matter how good, is not going to make a significant difference, particularly in the short term. Whoever we select with our first pick (whatever number that might be) is going to be made aware of this the minute his name is called out.

[beelzebub 22,230]

t bemuses me that this kid is apparently stereotyped already into a "particular " role. Im sure hte MFC selectors arent viewing him that way. A freakish athlete like this bloke doesnt come along every day. Theres potential to develop him into a number of roles. He has KpP written all over him..but not one only. he may release others into different roles than they currently fulfil ( or dont ) .

Midfielders seem to be made in bulk.. just luck of the draw.. freaks like Naita are rare.

The MFC is charged with taking the BEST player ..lets see what they do.

[Eastie Boyz 0]

If they're charged with taking the "best" player they won't take him because he's not the best player in this year's draft, just the most athletic.

The article linked by The Great Pretender basically confirms what a few of us have been saying which is that he's not a ready made footballer and still doesn't really know how to play the game at an elite standard. Plus that he's more likely to be a midfielder type follower than a traditional "tall" player because of that lack of football smarts

[Hannabal 4]

Plus that he's more likely to be a midfielder type follower than a traditional "tall" player because of that lack of football smarts

Because he's still learning the game doesn't show a lack of smarts. In fact, I'd suggest that anyone touted as being no. 1 pick with such a limited time in the game suggests the opposite. Already he knows how to do the inside work that many never come to grips with. It's the easy, or cheap ball in space that he needs to develop. Most players with enormous athletic ability are the opposite to Naita. They get the cheap ball well, but never get bruised with the hard stuff.

Have you ever seen him play live, or are you just parroting the views of others ? I'll reserve my judgment until I see him in the flesh. That said, anyone with his natural speed, size, leap, evasiveness, and aggression, who already does inside work better than most mids has my immediate respect and attention. And do you think there's a healthy dose of dedication being shown to outperform talented kids that have grown up with the game ? I suspect Jimmy Stynes would have been envious of such an athletic disposition. Imagine what he would've become in Naita's body. And Naita seems to have the same steely determination to achieve what he already has.

Will he be no. 1 ? I don't know, and may be he's not currently deserving, but I suspect anyone who sells him short may re-evaluate in time.

You need to post less or get a new script writer.

[Tim 2,852]

H (or anyone who has any info) - any ideas about whether the NN has a capacity to use his skills as a tall quick quality forward, a la Franklin, or whether he is more likely to be purely a ruckman who adds little up forward, a la Jeff White?

[Eastie Boyz 0]

Wouldn't the recruiters mentioned in the article have a good idea?

Or don't you trust them

[Roost It 1,434]

Of course no individual is ever going to be a team's saviour.

but one kid, no matter how good, is not going to make a significant difference, particularly in the short term. Whoever we select with our first pick (whatever number that might be) is going to be made aware of this the minute his name is called out.

Fair point but a genuine superstar makes a massive difference across a whole club (I'm not saying he's one}

Take Hawthorn and Buddy Franklin, he's worth his weight in gold and then some.These types of players are rare and we NEED one more than ever. Let's hope the selectors make the right choice

[Hannabal 4]

Tim

Supposedly more a Goodes type. I think he'll take centre bounces, then be used as a running mid, and also go forward to create mismatches. On ball will predominantly be his role.

[Tim 2,852]

Thanks - prefer a weapon that has a number of dimensions, and that sounds good.

[Hannabal 4]

Wouldn't the recruiters mentioned in the article have a good idea?

Or don't you trust them

I love it how you say in an earlier post "what a few of us have been saying" LOL. You haven't even seen him play, yet your quoting yourself in context. LOL Then you say that he "doesn't know how to play to an elite standard", yet he's representing WA juniors and will most likely make AA. He's also playing for Swan Districts, which is the most "elite standard" he can represent.

Mate, we all know that there's a risk with Naitanui. Any club that picks him knows the drill. Some say they'd pick others that are more sure fire, and yet Scotty Clayton, Wayne Hughes, and Garry Buckenara say they wouldn't hesitate. Do they have as much cred as the un-named sources ? But as stated ad nauseum, those un-named sources are correct. He's somewhat of a risk.

So, it will be fascinating to watch it unfold. I reckon the risk is worth the upside, but I'll reserve final judgment until I see him in the flesh. Even then, I know I won't have seen nearly enough.

But you support another club, so why do you care ?

[CarnTheDees 52]

I heard a very brief report on the WA v Vic Country match today on the radio.

The reporter was very impressed with NN's game, mentioned the athleticism, vertical leap and ability at ground level (2nd and 3rd efforts), and suggested that he might have 'a bit of mongrel' in him as well.

Sounds good so far.

[Demon trucker 1,776]

I heard a very brief report on the WA v Vic Country match today on the radio.

The reporter was very impressed with NN's game, mentioned the athleticism, vertical leap and ability at ground level (2nd and 3rd efforts), and suggested that he might have 'a bit of mongrel' in him as well.

Sounds good so far.

If buddy Franklin was in next years draft and you had number one would you pick him or or pick tumbling buddy had the best leap fast tall and heaps of athleticism, but he was past until 4 th pick because he was not the best player in the draft. when someone like this kid comes along you pick him in front of a midfielder, they come at a dime a dozen

[Hannabal 4]

(A report from today's state match in W.A)

Vic Country best in west

VICTORIA Country has bounced back from an upset loss to NSW/ACT a fortnight ago to defeat Western Australia by 27 points in the 2008 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships at Subiaco Oval on Saturday.

The visitors dealt WA their first defeat of this year's NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, running out 11.4 (70) to 6.7 (43) victors in a curtain raiser to the West Coast v Geelong match.

Country set up its win with an eight goal to three first half and kicked away in the final quarter against a lackluster WA.

WA won the inside 50 count 43-23 but were unable to find the space to deliver cleanly to spearhead Chris Yarran. Country on the other hand refused to cough up the ball and delivered to advantage with Nic Heyne (three goals) and Andrew Browne (two goals) the most productive of their forwards.

But Country were able to find options all over the ground with eight separate goal kickers in a low scoring affair.

For WA, Nick Naitanui was unbreakable around the stoppages doing it all for his team. He had 18 hit-outs and 10 clearances, but struggled to have the same influence around the ground.

Matt DeBoer (23 possessions) was clean for the home side across half-back while highly rated Daniel Rich (eight) struggled to shake the close attention he was given.

Victoria Country 3.3 8.3 8.3 11.4 (70)

Western Australia 0.0 1.1 4.4 6.7 (43)

GOALS

Vic Country: Heyne 3, Browne 2, Bucovaz, Christensen, McKenzie, Rockliff, Roughead, Sheahan

Western Australia: Daly 2, Hill, Rich, Walters, Yarran

BEST

Vic Country: Heyne, Sheahan, Ziebell, Browne

Western Australia: Naitanui, DeBoer, Jetta, Daly

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As stated earlier, Nicknat is well on his way to AA honours. Ten clearances from a ruckman ! Once he learns to link play around the ground and get some uncontested ball by running to the right spots he could be anything.

Keep jabbing, EBoy.

[Hannabal 4]

There are some unscrupulous reports that Rich is tanking a la West Coast.

He's having a terrible carnival, notwithstanding the close attention.

[Jerry Lundergard 382]

Another 5 goals for my No.1 with a bullet Jack Watts.

http://www.afl.com.au/News/NewsArticle/tab...px?newsId=61961

[Jarka 767]

I really like the look of Naitanui and I've been on his bandwagon since last year, however....the things that concern me about him are:

1. Contested marking

2. Kicking

3. Footy nous.

This kid is an athletic freak so there's nothing to say that he won't develop all these areas and his ongoing performances have shown that his capable of dealing with the pressure on him right now, everyone he plays will want to beat the number 1 kid in the land so you can bet he has to work bloody hard in each game I'm sure if the draft was held tomorrow he'd go first.

[Eastie Boyz 0]

For someone 2metres tall I wouldn't be too worried about his kicking.

There aren't many ruckman around who are great kicks. Having said that though, if it's horribly bad then it does become a concern.

[The Time is Now 1]

dont want him, go for watts

[The Emblem 1]

I really like the look of Naitanui and I've been on his bandwagon since last year, however....the things that concern me about him are:

1. Contested marking

2. Kicking

3. Footy nous.

This kid is an athletic freak so there's nothing to say that he won't develop all these areas and his ongoing performances have shown that his capable of dealing with the pressure on him right now, everyone he plays will want to beat the number 1 kid in the land so you can bet he has to work bloody hard in each game I'm sure if the draft was held tomorrow he'd go first.

OK, if you're right Jarka he can't take a contested mark , can't kick and has no footy smarts

Hmmm.

[Jarka 767]

OK, if you're right Jarka he can't take a contested mark , can't kick and has no footy smarts

Hmmm.

Whoa there, I'm not saying that he can't do those things, just that up until now he doesn't do them often.

From what I've seen his kicking is not great, not terrible, just not great like Rich. This I believe is the easiest thing to improve. In the u/18's he hand passes alot, which would suggest that he's been coached to do it.

I haven't seen enough of him to get a good look at his contested marking, can anyone on here who have seen a fair amount of him venture an opinion?

The footy nous one is a bit obvious, he's still very raw in terms of our long he's played the game, obviously he's still learning the game. Compared to other young players from other countries who took on the sport at a late age, let's say O'hailpin at the blues, he's miles in front.

[Axis of Bob 10,261]

They are the 3 things that most people who have seen him play a lot note consistently as concerns.

It doesn't mean he's not an exciting prospect, but he's by no means flawless.

[EVIL DEE 1]

anyone know if he kicks any goals? what his average is at senior level?

whether his in the 'forward line' or not, we need more scores.

[CARN THE DEES! 14]

From what I've seen his kicking is not great, not terrible, just not great like Rich. This I believe is the easiest thing to improve. In the u/18's he hand passes alot, which would suggest that he's been coached to do it.

He'll fit in perfect here then!!