Another ruckman at #1?

[ALI-G]

• NICHOLAS Naitanui will bring an athleticism so far unseen in the AFL when he is picked, probably at No. 1, in this year's national draft.

So powerful is the 17-year-old's leap, he could represent his native Fiji in the Beijing Olympics high jump.
He cleared the island nation's qualifying mark of 2m at a school athletics meet last year.
Naitanui also left University of Western Australia testers flabbergasted, jumping higher than their equipment could record at a routine screening.
He has the sort of talent that prompted one AFL recruiter to say, tongue-in-cheek, "He is almost worth tanking the whole season".
Naitanui will play in the WAFL this season with Swan Districts, but club officials did not want to comment on plans for him this season. Spectators last weekend watched the draft ace turn a WAFL game on his own, pinch-hitting in the ruck.
West Coast recruiting manager Trevor Woodhouse said he could not think of another player like Naitanui, who is 196cm but growing.
"He is very exciting, because I can't see how anyone can outjump him, I seriously can't," Woodhouse said.
"He's rucked against the Kreuzers of the world, and the other 199-201cm ruckmen, and he nearly clears them by a foot."
For someone his height, Naitanui's ground skills and feverish second and third efforts are also impressive.
According to Champion Data, he was the No. 1 hitout winner at the 2007 under-18 championships, where he averaged 11 possessions and five hard-ball gets a game.
Naitanui is also highly marketable, with dread-locked hair and an exuberant playing style.
"Being Fijian, with the different hairstyle, and jumping on people's heads -- you'd think he will be a team favourite wherever he ends up," Woodhouse said.
"They've always got a long way to go, but at this stage he looks like someone who has got their head *****ed on, and he is a nice kid."

Courtesy Fijian flyer Naitanui thrills clubs | Herald Sun

Here's a link to the kid in a ruck contest http://media.foxsports.com.au/images/naitanui180.jpg

[bender]

everyone in the west has known about this kid for a while. missed out on last years draft by a few days on age. don't think he'll go number 1 but. daniel rich will proly go first but any other year he would proly go number 1. depends on which team finishes last and what type of player they want.
his kicking skills arn't the best but he's def got the most natural talent, another year in the wafl will do him wonders honeing his skills

[ALI-G]

I think he's a lock for top 3 and my early tip for #1. Did make AA last year with a couple of other big fellas like Kreuzer and McEvoy. Not sure of the tall stocks in this years group yet but he has a clear headstart despite needing improvement.

[peterfitz]

I thought I saw somewhere that Carlton would have taken him at #1 last year if he'd been available

[Tippaz]

seems a bit risky taking him at no.1

i wouldn't take a ruckman unless i thought he was he the next Dean Cox.

[ALI-G]

Originally Posted by Tippaz

seems a bit risky taking him at no.1

i wouldn't take a ruckman unless i thought he was he the next Dean Cox.

Peterfitz is correct in saying Carlton would of taken him ahead of Kreuzer, imagine that ruckmen going 1 & 2. Funny you say that Tippaz seeing Cox came off the rookie list.

I think Kreuzer will prove worthy of the pick and I think Natanui will prove to be a gun no matter where he is taken.

[GreaT SourcE]

Naitanui is a freak, shat all over Kreuzer at last year's champs, has great athleticism but still needs to keep working on his disposal skills because his skills aren't one of his greatest strengths....Daniel Rich is another one to keep and eye on come when draft time comes along, people from WA say they haven't seen a better kid come from their state...

[ALI-G]

Main draft talk out of Tassie atm is around Aaron Cornelius, a key forward playing with the Devils. Kids had big wraps for a while now and is tipped as a top 10 possibly as high as 4.

[wcefan09]

hahah ive seen naitanui in person and stood next to the guy. he is a giant and his hair should mean a number 1 draft pick just in itself :P

yes, the guy is definitely going to go number one or two but faces stiff competition from daniel rich.

(btw, when i saw him late last year he was in a west coast shirt lets hope thats the way it stays!!!)

[Saintscrazy]

Originally Posted by ALI-G

Main draft talk out of Tassie atm is around Aaron Cornelius, a key forward playing with the Devils. Kids had big wraps for a while now and is tipped as a top 10 possibly as high as 4.

Tassie seem to get left off the radar at times, there are a few good players hav'n a kick atm in local senior teams, they are going alright too.

Tassie u18's winning Div 2 earlier in the month with give them a bit of confidence going in2 saturday's game with SA. This year's Tassie team seem to have team players not individuals trying to impress if one of the forwards is being double teamed one of the others stands up, its great to see.
GO TASSIE GO AC! he turns 18 this Thursday 29 May !! Bday xx