NikNat

[Sideshow Bob 2,165]

After watching today, very very happy we took Watts over NikNat.

He looks like a one trick pony who has a leap and was able to use over the kids. A big strong bodied Jamar jumps into him at the bounces and he was flustered and had no idea how to go about rucking against a someone who uses their body. My thoughts are that he'll be a flash in the pan marketing tool and be chewed up, spat out and forgotten about in a short career (but then again....i could be wrong about him)

[Geddy Lee 582]

They are both going to be very good. WC develops it's young players fantastically.

I hope threads like these do not become an epidemic.

[CARN THE DEES! 14]

After watching today, very very happy we took Watts over NikNat.

He looks like a one trick pony who has a leap and was able to use over the kids. A big strong bodied Jamar jumps into him at the bounces and he was flustered and had no idea how to go about rucking against a someone who uses their body. My thoughts are that he'll be a flash in the pan marketing tool and be chewed up, spat out and forgotten about in a short career (but then again....i could be wrong about him)

A stupid comment!!

The KID has only just begun playing AFL football, and still learning the caper.

[don cordner 165]

I think todays game will take the pressure of watts

he would of sat in the stands and thought to himself. huh whats all the hype about.

i got this kid covered.

[tez 6]

what a stupid post this kid and is a kid will be dominating games in 3 0r 4 years i hate the comparisons with Watts, bot are kids and will be good in different ways

[rusty_kingswood 0]

After watching today, very very happy we took Watts over NikNat.

He looks like a one trick pony who has a leap and was able to use over the kids. A big strong bodied Jamar jumps into him at the bounces and he was flustered and had no idea how to go about rucking against a someone who uses their body. My thoughts are that he'll be a flash in the pan marketing tool and be chewed up, spat out and forgotten about in a short career (but then again....i could be wrong about him)

The only part of the post that is correct.

We were [censored] when people were getting stuck into Watts after 3 games, same applies to Nik Nat.

[Bay Riffin 1,426]

I think todays game will take the pressure of watts

he would of sat in the stands and thought to himself. huh whats all the hype about.

i got this kid covered.

Didn't get a kick today. Happy with our choice.

Watts gets 2 goals and a few kicks and the media blast him. Not even worth worrying about.

[Guest Rojik of the Arctic]

Nic Nat will be a good player but I did get a nice feeling of STFU to all the Watts knockers watching him stuggle.

[Whispering_Jack 28,089]

I hope Leigh Matthews was on today's commentary team. His comments on Naitanui's performance would be really interesting. Most of the rest of the media too!

[two sheds jackson 3]

Yeah, silly thread- a couple of weeks ago we had people saying the exact opposite. He might have found it tough against Jamar today, but give him a couple of years to fill out and learn the trade and he'll be beating guys like Jamar without too much trouble (that's no slight on Jamar, who I thought was very good today). Both he and Watts will have games like this in the next year or so, but in the end I think both will be something special. Impossible to say at this stage who'll be better- I find it really hard to gauge the extent of Natanui's upside; he's handy already, and will definitely get better, but god only knows how much better.

[w00dy 146]

NataWHOi?

I think we saw today why we took Watts ahead of NickNat... NickNat can struggle to impact on matches, Watts has been a more consistent performer thus far... NickNat could turn out to be a superstar, there's much more upside there, but there's also a greater risk he won't realise his potential.

Lets hope both turn out to be great players, lets hope this does shut all the Watts bashers up...

[Binmans PA 26,481]

Naitanui was well beaten by Jamar and when he went forward, Warnock. That's that. It doesn't mean he'll be good or bad, but like Watts, he's only played 3 games. You surely cannot expect anything more than that, at this stage.

[Guest Watts=Saviour]

It's so unfair to judge him now, same applies to Watts. I think they'll both be great players in different ways, but comparing and judging them now is stupid.

Naitainui's performance today will take pressure off Watts, which is good, but lets not be hypocrites and bag players after 3 games.

[Goodvibes 3,596]

W=S is dead right. We can't be hypocritical. We're calling for patience with Watts yet willing to judge Nic Nat on 3 games.

Nah stuff it. This made me laugh. From Bigfooty, "Take away his stupid haircut and he's a black Kepler Bradley".

[Dee Fan 3,247]

He would want to harden up after today's effort, he looked as if he didn't want to go near the ball at the centre bounces.

He's a big bodied player and has played against mature players over in WA but today he was really put off by the big Russian. I don't think it's unfair to comment on his play today and would go so far as to say if he doesn't go at it a bit harder he won't have a future at all.

[The Emblem 1]

A stupid comment!!

The KID has only just begun playing AFL football, and still learning the caper.

Quite agree, seems like a bad case of premature evaluation

[Goodvibes 3,596]

Quite agree, seems like a bad case of premature evaluation

As opposed to the bad case of premature adulation experienced by thousands of West Coast fans after last weeks fourth quarter effort. Very messy affair.

[The Emblem 1]

As opposed to the bad case of premature adulation experienced by thousands of West Coast fans after last weeks fourth quarter effort. Very messy affair.

Yes its all very Rudyard Kipling

[71 Molloy 266]

196cm ruckman who can't even bounce the ball......

Give me the KPP with a big game temperament. Still very happy with Jackie boy.

[Einstein 1]

The kid is going to be something awesome. You couldn't help but be struck today by his size and athleticism. Could ultimately be the greatest pure athlete to play the game.

Clearly however, he isn't too interested in kicking the ball, not that I thought he had plenty of chances to do so today, but handball looks to be his first thought each and everytime. The new Barry Round perhaps. It is definately something they'll be working on with him or else he will become awfully predictable.

And like most kids just drafted, he needs a couple of pre-seasons in him. He looked out of petrol a few times throughout the game, especially in the final quarter. Once he improves his endurance and can run all day, look out.

I didn't see anything from him however, that made me second guess our selection of Watts.

I do wonder though, had Jack played and given the exact same performance that NikNat gave today, would we have heard the chorus of 'He isn't ready' from the media and associated knuckleheads? Probably. I doubt we'll hear it concerning NikNat. But I just think that is the attention that comes with being the number 1 pick.

It will be interesting to see what NikNat does with his obvious natural talents, because he's got about as much natural ability to work with as any kid I've seen.

[RalphiusMaximus 5,993]

I can't believe nobody has said it yet.

I didn't see anything today to justify his being picked at no.2.

(I have no idea if the phrasing is right, but you get the idea )

I was thirlled with how he was shut down today. Good lesson for the kid.

[twist 0]

Take it to bigfooty Jako you ignoramus

[heartbeatstrue 57]

Didn't get a kick today. Happy with our choice.

Watts gets 2 goals and a few kicks and the media blast him. Not even worth worrying about.

Natanwhoi got one kick, 20 m straight into the arms of Jones. He fumbled an attempt at a bounce on the run, it looked awful, and got off a few nice handballs. Basically he was running around the big paddock looking totally lost (like Watts in his first game).

Likely both are going to be absolute champions, just stupid to expect that in the first year. It's a salutary lesson in how important experience at the top level is in footy. Points up how even a great footballer and coach like Matthews can make silly comments, maybe he has an anti-Melb bias, dunno.

[Jaded No More 59,083]

Way too early to be making any sort of call on him, just as it is too early to be judging Watts, but a few of things really stood out today with Naitanui.

For one, he is the biggest 19 year old I have ever seen in my life. Surely he is at least 100kg, so from a physical point of view, there is no more development to come.

He seemed very lost in the contests and had that lack of awareness in terms of positioning himself. Now obviously that is something you learn with experience, but I think Watts showed a lot of natural smarts in his first three matches, and a much better awareness and understanding of the game.

Thirdly, his skills looked like they need plenty of work and polish.

He is an amazingly quickly and agile guy for his size, but he comes with a huge risk. If he can't polish his skills he'll struggle for impact, and if he lacks smarts and awareness, well we know you can't teach that.

He is either going to be an absolute star, or a very tall, average player and that is the risk that West Coast took. I'm glad we didn't, because put simply, we cannot afford to make mistakes like that. Watts is a small risk- high return. Naitanui is a big risk- huge return.

Finally, that hair makes him look like a palm tree and/or an upside down toilet brush. So distracting! :D

[DeeBest 13]

What a stupid thread!!!

He's a third gamer, a tall developing player. Much like Watts.

And I bet the footy club went into today with one clear instruction for every player on the list...GET INTO NIC NAT!!! The club had a lot to lose today if Naitanui dominated, it would have increased the pressure on Watts and on the footy department.