Nic Naitanui

Nicholas Mark Naitanui (born 4 May 1990) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL).

He was born in Sydney to Fijian parents, and his family moved to Perth, Western Australia after his father's death.

Growing up in Midvale, Naitanui attended Governor Stirling Senior High School, and played football for the Midvale Junior Football Club.

Naitanui was born to Bola and Atetha Naitanui on 4 May 1990 in Penrith, New South Wales along with his twin brother, Mark.

His parents, originally from Suvavou, a small village near Suva, had emigrated to Australia from Fiji the previous year, with his two elder siblings, Georgie and Laisani, remaining in Fiji.

His father died from cancer the year after Naitanui and his brother were born.

After his father's death, his mother moved the family to Perth, Western Australia, where her brother lived.

His mother began working at Homeswest, a public housing authority, and also volunteered at a homeless shelter.

Naitanui grew up in Midvale, near Midland, and attended Midvale Primary School.

He took up playing football at the age of nine, when he began playing for the Midvale Junior Football Club.

As a child, he lived on Bushby Street in Midvale, along with Shane Yarran, Michael Walters and Chris Yarran, who would all go on to play AFL football.

Two other AFL players, David Ellard and Jeff Garlett, also played with Naitanui, Walters, Chris Yarran and Shane Yarran at the Midvale Junior Football Club.

Naitanui attended Governor Stirling Senior High School and played football there, as well as for the Swan Districts Colts (underage) side in the West Australian Football League (WAFL).

During his time in junior and colts football, he played predominantly in the ruck, however he also was used on the wing or at full-back.

Naitanui also excelled at basketball and track and field events, particularly high jump, and was asked by recruiters to trial with American universities, but declined to do so.

After representing Western Australia in the 2007 and 2008 AFL Under 18 Championships, he debuted in 2008 for the Swan Districts Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL).

In the 2007 Under-18 AFL National Championships, Naitanui was dominant in the ruck for Western Australia, and was named Best on Ground in the final.

Following his performance, he was hotly pursued by several AFL clubs.

However, he was born a few days too late to qualify for the 2007 AFL draft.

He was named in the Under-18 All-Australian Team in both 2007 and 2008, and was awarded a scholarship with the Australian Institute of Sport to become a member of the AIS/AFL Academy Squad.

As a highly rated future player by John Worsfold, Naitanui was given the number 9 guernsey, becoming the first West Coast Eagles player to wear the number since Brownlow Medalist and former captain Ben Cousins left the club at the end of the 2007 season.

Naitanui was drafted by West Coast with the second pick in the 2008 National Draft.

A much-hyped Naitanui was invited to the 2008 AFL Draft Camp and his results were impressive.

He managed to equal the running vertical jump record previously set by Jared Brennan, but fell short of Trent Croad's standing jump record.

His sprint, agility and endurance tests were also impressive.

Many media commentators believed that Naitanui was in contention to be taken as the number 1 pick in the 2008 AFL Draft.

The Melbourne Football Club, who retained that pick, had looked at Naitanui, but instead selected Victorian Jack Watts.

Naitanui was taken at pick No. 2 overall in the 2008 AFL Draft by the West Coast Eagles.

Naitanui made his AFL debut for West Coast in round 12 of the 2009 season, against.

He played ten games in his debut season, and received one Brownlow Medal vote for a three-goal game against.

In his second season, Naitanui played every game, primarily as a back-up ruckman to Dean Cox, taking over the position of Mark Seaby, who was traded the previous season.

Having started the season as the favourite for the AFL Rising Star, Naitanui finished 5th overall.

His first game at the senior level was on 13 June 2009 when he was named to play against Richmond in game 12 of the 2009 season.

His career suffered a setback, however, during pre-season training when he experienced knee soreness and had precautionary surgery.

Naitanui impressed enough in the WAFL in a game where he accumulated 15 possessions, 21 hit-outs, 4 goals and a spectacular mark, to earn his selection in the round 12 against Richmond at Etihad Stadium.

His debut game impressed many, demonstrating his athletic ability with another spectacular mark as well as 3 kicks, 8 handballs, 3 marks and 7 hitouts.

In his second game against premiers Hawthorn at Subiaco, Naitanui was quiet for the first three-quarters but dazzled in the fourth, kicking three goals and leading his team to a come-from-behind win.

Naitanui was honoured with a nomination for the AFL Rising Star in round 4, 2010 in the West Coast Eagles win over the Essendon Bombers, a match where Naitanui dominated with 13 disposals, 5 tackles and 17 hitouts.

In the 2011 season, he played 23 games, including his first finals matches, and was also nominated for Mark of the Year.

He was named in the All-Australian team the following season, as the first-choice ruckman.