I watched today's WAFL Preliminary final mainly to have another look at Nick Naitanui. I know he was playing senior football, but the WAFL is light years behind the AFL. Nick was a big disappointment with very few possessions and even a low count of hit outs. He didn't seem to read the play at all and looked very, very rough in his skills. I also watched him in the Vic Metro V WA final where he was with guys of his own age and sadly I was surprised at his lack of influence on the game. To be fair though, Jack Watts did nothing to get excited about. In this game, Rich stood out as a ready made AFL player. Nick's team Swan Districts made the grand final against Subiaco next week. This will give me another opportunity to watch him play and also Daniel Rich who plays for Subiaco. I shall reserve my final thoughts until then, but at the moment I won't lose any sleep if we don't draft Naita. Thoughts anyone?

I watched today's WAFL Preliminary final mainly to have another look at Nick Naitanui. I know he was playing senior football, but the WAFL is light years behind the AFL. Nick was a big disappointment with very few possessions and even a low count of hit outs. He didn't seem to read the play at all and looked very, very rough in his skills. I also watched him in the Vic Metro V WA final where he was with guys of his own age and sadly I was surprised at his lack of influence on the game. To be fair though, Jack Watts did nothing to get excited about. In this game, Rich stood out as a ready made AFL player. Nick's team Swan Districts made the grand final against Subiaco next week. This will give me another opportunity to watch him play and also Daniel Rich who plays for Subiaco. I shall reserve my final thoughts until then, but at the moment I won't lose any sleep if we don't draft Naita. Thoughts anyone?

l'm with you, from what l've seen of him he is just a Jeff White clone and probably not as good as Whitey

I was riding the Natanui bandwagon earlier this year but jumped off as soon as I heard about Watts. Our forward line is screaming out for a KPP. He most likely will take a lot longer to get a run than Rich would but there is no need to rush him in anyway. He will probably do a similar apprenticeship as Marric did this year.

Bobby, am i right in thinking you're from Perth? I think i remember that, otherwise i apologise for just making it up.

If so, what do other people around the traps think about NikNat?

Bobby, am i right in thinking you're from Perth? I think i remember that, otherwise i apologise for just making it up.

If so, what do other people around the traps think about NikNat?

Correct '45hotgod' I've been over here for 35 years now. Naturally, I hail from good old Vic. The general thoughts of the locals in my tennis club is that Naita is not the player people are pumping him up to be. They reckon he could make the grade, but more likely he won't. This is fairly reliable information as these guys go to WAFL games regularly. Even more regular than usual due to the indifferent performances of the Eagles and the Dockers. As I said in my "report' I'll have another look at him next Sunday. Cheers.

Bobby..thanks for the insight..it does seem as though Watts is firming as the logical choice.

On the subject of local nouse and goss.....are there any up and coming 'Gumbies" out there we could snare ??

l'm with you, from what l've seen of him he is just a Jeff White clone and probably not as good as Whitey

Yeah. Thats right. Cos Jeff White was a hack when he started out.

Watts is the logical choice because he's what we desperately need.

I think you'll find with Nata that the game is going to suit him as it evolves over the course of his career. We're just coming to the end of a short period where teams were looking for giant beanpoles to counteract Dean Cox's height - guys like Sandilands will fade away now that there will be four boundary umpires, stoppages will happen a lot quicker and ruckmen are going to have to work up and down the ground a lot more. Nata has the athleticism to jump over anyone, compete at ground level and do it all day.

People have to remember that ruckmen don't hit their "peak" until 24-25. Jeff White made an impact from day one for us but he was starting his third year when he joined us, and played backup for much of that first year.

I have no doubt Nata will be a very good footballer, but the first three years there'll be a lot of questions about him because he won't get that much of the ball possession wise. He'll give first use to his midfield though from day one. Its right to be a bit wary of WAFL performances though - I saw Kepler Bradley dominate a WAFL Prelim Final at 17 in 2003, he was a top 6 pick and moved on within four years.

As a West Australian living in Victoria who grew up following Melbourne and Swan Districts I'm just rapt that the Black Ducks are into teir first GF in ten years and after coming from behind at half time.

But I think we should go for Watts.

Bobby..thanks for the insight..it does seem as though Watts is firming as the logical choice.

On the subject of local nouse and goss.....are there any up and coming 'Gumbies" out there we could snare ??

The players the locals reckon are the goods are Rich, Hill and Yarran. Can't comment much further other than all three played well in the TAC game against Vic Metro. I reckon there are a lot of good colts coming up in this year's draft.

Yes i have watched tapes of WAFL Games as well (working at ABC in Ripponlea) and Natinui has not really done much in my Humble opinion. Rich or Watts are what we should be gunning for.

Thank you Spy for this! I, too, watched the prelim final on TV on Saturday &, having little interest in AFL finals, was pleased to see a game that got me in (though I'm an EPerth supporter - yes, member of two wooden spoon clubs). Loved the desperation of the game & the crazy ending but definitely came away thinking NN was nowhere near a top pick. Chris Yarran was the closest to someone worth pursuing. Over at 'ology they're still waxing lyrical on NN!