someone posted this on bigfooty...

Yeah, lets be the club that passed on this bloke

After seeing the clip and reading a few articles Naitanui looks the goods. If he takes another big step this year then he is a cert for No1.

We already know he can leap tall buildings in a single bound now they tell us he can smash through the lines and hit the ball on the ground like a mid.

im so torn between tanking and winning games

OUTS THIS YEAR: White, McDonald, Neitz, Robbo, Wheatley, Whelan, Green, Bruce, Holland, Yze

edit: add Garland, Weetra, CJ, Jamar and Bode to that list, with the possible inclusion of Warnock.

There is no point in making 16 changes unless you can get picks for them, besides you have to make 3 deletions at least every season so you should spread it out over a couple of years.

The annoying thing is that if the priority pick rules hadn't been changed from how they were in 2005 when Carlton, Collingwood and Hawthorn shared the first 6 picks, then we would be in with a real chance to get both. We may well win 2, 1 or even 0 games all year, and in return we get a relatively meek pick no. 17 or something.

The annoying thing is that if the priority pick rules hadn't been changed from how they were in 2005 when Carlton, Collingwood and Hawthorn shared the first 6 picks, then we would be in with a real chance to get both. We may well win 2, 1 or even 0 games all year, and in return we get a relatively meek pick no. 17 or something.

i know a top 5 priority pick would be great, but don't underestimate the value of a pick in the high teens. example; if another club had pick 17 and we wanted it, which player would you expect to trade to get it? it would be a top 10 player at our club.

I am a Fiji born Indian - who has been living in Victoria for the last 20 yrs. One only has to look at Rugby league and Union (especially 7's) to work out that Fijians are naturally (atheletically) suited to the oval ball game (Taquiri for example has excelled at both forms of the game).

What most often lets Fijian down is their less then professional attitudes. However, the first Fijian to play AFL is David Rodan, this guy is one out of the box - he is short ( by Fijian standards) and is the ultimate professional in his attitude towards training and achieving team goals - by all reports the FlyingFijian has him as his biggest idol. That say's a lot about this guy's character and future potential to develop (two things Bails loves).

One must also remember that David Shwarze was also a talented high flying ruckman who turned into a KPP unitil he was cruelly crippled by injuries!!

Our last number 1 pick was wasted on the best midfielder available (Travis J). Subsequent high draft picks were also wasted on potential midfielders (Mclean 5 and Sylvia 3) while KPP's went begging.

Time to take a punt on a freak - The Flying Fijian.

Our last number 1 pick was wasted on the best midfielder available (Travis J). Subsequent high draft picks were also wasted on potential midfielders (Mclean 5 and Sylvia 3) while KPP's went begging.

So by your theory Melbourne will never have a good fielder from a top 10 pick?

So by your theory Melbourne will never have a good fielder from a top 10 pick?

All I am saying is that a tall freakish KPP is what we need - we have recruited enough midfielders. In the recent past we have traded Bishop, Basset, Jolly (all of whom have gone on to win premierships with other clubs in key positions) not to mention Simmonds (who could have been anyhting for us).

If you have to pick between a tall and mid of comparable abilities for their respective positions always better to go for the tall. There seems to be heaps more mids for the picking in drafts but not as many rucks/KPP's in comparison.

If Natanui develops further this year and is still the standout at draft time we have to pick him up if he is available at our pick (probably 1). We also seem to have plenty of mids/HBF types at the moment.

Whether he develops into a KPP is another thing but for now i would settle for a gun ruckman who runs and plays like a mid on the ground and flys like a ruckman in the air.

It will be interesting to see how he perfporms in the U 18 Championships this year, WAFL and the draft camp.

forget about all these irish players and chinese stuff, us fijians will be just as good!

Just re-watched the WA v Vic Metro game from the last carnival, where both Naitanui and Rich were involved, but not eligible for the subsequent draft.

Naitanui's got freak athleticism. Has a lot to learn as a footballer, a given as he hasn't even been playing footy for long.

Daniel Rich will be a guaranteed hit. Midfielder with the full package. Great vision and awareness with a penetrating left foot kick (he hardly missed a target in this game, including passes over 45 metres). Reminds me of Nick Dal Santo in build and style, but looks like he gets in an under a bit more than Dal Santo.

Best thing is, both kids are big on pressure and tackling. Be happy with either, but Naitanui's got that x-factor. Could be anything.

Every draft there are a couple of midfielders who will be exceptional players, but you get the feeling that Naitanui is going to be unique in the game. We've drafted plenty of midfielder types in the past. We need to keep faith in the little blokes we have, and go with Naitanui if we get the chance. I'm sure we'll have another crack at getting a top young mid soon enough given our current level of performance.

http://www.afl.com.au/News/NewsArticle/tab...px?newsId=46627

Daniel Rich

Recruiter 1: Although he is ineligible for the national draft in 2007, he will no doubt be a player who will attract interest leading into next year's NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. He's a very similar player to Rhys Palmer – they both enjoy contested situations. He's naturally aggressive and brings other players into the game. He led by example today.

Recruiter 2: He's got some similarities to Palmer and continually wins the ball in a contested situation. I really like the way that he goes about his football and thought that he had an outstanding game.

Nicholas Naitanui

Recruiter 1: Nick has outstanding athleticism and although he still has some things to learn about the actual game, he is very much a player to watch in 2008 (he is ineligible for the national draft in 2007). Naitanui covers the ground easily and when he knows how to better play four quarters, he will be a genuine talent.

Im just wondering if ..if Spencer was to come along in his rucking whether Naita might not make one hell of a CHF ?

Im just wondering if ..if Spencer was to come along in his rucking whether Naita might not make one hell of a CHF ?

Thre kid moves beautifully (a bit like Adam Goodes), but will need to work on his positioning around the ground. CHF would be a tough spot to learn that sense, but CHB might be a good starting point for him. Let someone else lead him to the contest. Seems to be the way Stef Martin is developing at Sandringham.

Or even let him tag someone like Goodes

You guys are joking if you think we will get Naitanui. One of Richmond or Carlton will qualify for a priority pick, end of story.

You guys are joking if you think we will get Naitanui. One of Richmond or Carlton will qualify for a priority pick, end of story.

how so..

Richmond isnt travelling to shabbily.. and Carlton wil lhave more wins

Richmond likely to win both games against us at present.

puts us in the box seat free and clear

You guys are joking if you think we will get Naitanui. One of Richmond or Carlton will qualify for a priority pick, end of story.

richmond either win 5 or more or wallace gets the sack.....simple as that. they won't be tanking and will win at least 2 more games, i think as many as 8. the blues are a worry and definately a chance, but as long as we get 1 or 2 i'm happy.

Heres two pictures i found to make our jaws drop= This is him on robbie warnock

and this one-- well---no words can describe==

Did his tap outs go to anyone though?

Gary Buchanara, who is the Hawks WA recruiter and was instrumental in getting the Hawks to draft Buddy, was on KB's morning show last week, and it seemed to me he was almost trying to hold himself back when talking about the possibilty of how good Natanui could be. He said that Rich is a gun too, and is obviously a safe bet, but NN has the potential to be a once in a generation player.

For a club like ours that seems to be irrelevant on the AFL front at the moment, having a big Fijian kid running around in the Red & Blue leaping over opposition players, is something we desparately need. Just as there are kids taking up the game today wanting to become Hawthorn supporters because of Buddy Franklin, we have chance to finally have a player that will get not only Melbourne supporters to come back to watch the footy again, but supporters of other clubs as well.

.... we have chance to finally have a player that will get not only Melbourne supporters to come back to watch the footy again, but supporters of other clubs as well.

exactly... how many kids can you imagine suddenly wanting to wear a jumper with that guys number on the back. Thats how you get yound kids excited.. give them some sort of superhero to emulate in the school yard !!

Sounds far fetched to some.. but a guy like Naita could brig in a whole new generation of Dee followers !!

exactly... how many kids can you imagine suddenly wanting to wear a jumper with that guys number on the back. Thats how you get yound kids excited.. give them some sort of superhero to emulate in the school yard !!

Sounds far fetched to some.. but a guy like Naita could brig in a whole new generation of Dee followers !!

Astonishly I find myself in agreement with you and Jerry.

The Fijian Shredder is a must. I've seen a bit of footage of him, read a bit, and heard from recruiters. I've also spoken to

his manager. He's still raw, but could be an AFL sensation. Plays like a 7 foot tall mid. Supposedly does the tap then gets his own clearances.

Regardless of who we choose. This club must ensure they get first pick in this year's draft.

Its ok H...probably wont happen often...pmsl .. :D

but he has that X factor.. X to the nth really !!

he really sounds like one out of the box.

Looks like everyone is resigned to the wooden spoon . . . didn't think it'd happen so quickly tbh But yes, I'd take NikNat over Rich going on what I've seen.