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Nic Naitanui Retires

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Very saddening news, despite it being what was expected somewhat, the thought that we won’t see him onfield again is very tough to bear.

An absolute champion in every sense of the word. A kind, humble and caring soul. A true of icon of our club. What he went through and the way in which he came back for those two amazing years in 20/21 won’t be forgotten. Unfairly maligned at times by opposition supporters and sadly some of our own, but we knew how much he meant to us all and the impact he had on his teammates and club as a whole.

A simply brilliant career. He will be missed
:(
 
Sad he didn't get a send off game and never won a flag.
Probably up there between him and Peter Matera as the most exciting players to watch
 

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Pretty disappointing to read some of the comments going around on some of the east based articles about nicnat retiring, seeing all the comments “overrated”, “used to take 1 mark a year”, “weak as piss” all the trash written makes me think is it because of his skin colour, I didn’t see those comments the last 2 weeks when hurn and shuey retired. We were a very privileged fan base to be able to cheer Nic on , absolute gun and even better bloke. Hopefully he sticks around we need people like him there the fabric of the footy club.
 
Was human momentum. Everything going forward. Get the **** out of the way smash anything stupid enough to be in the way everyone moving in unison straight at goal.
 
wirra44 said:
Pretty disappointing to read some of the comments going around on some of the east based articles about nicnat retiring, seeing all the comments “overrated”, “used to take 1 mark a year”, “weak as piss” all the trash written makes me think is it because of his skin colour, I didn’t see those comments the last 2 weeks when hurn and shuey retired. We were a very privileged fan base to be able to cheer Nic on , absolute gun and even better bloke. Hopefully he sticks around we need people like him there the fabric of the footy club.
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He’s copped it his entire career. Early stages he used to get comments along the lines of “… once he learns the game” even though he grew up playing footy with Chris Yarran and Lewis Jetta.

In the latter stages of his career it was all about the lack of marking regardless of the taps to advantage and the immense ground pressure he’d apply.

It’s crap, and was never called out in the media for what it was.
 
Boohemian said:
He’s copped it his entire career. Early stages he used to get comments along the lines of “… once he learns the game” even though he grew up playing footy with Chris Yarran and Lewis Jetta.

In the latter stages of his career it was all about the lack of marking regardless of the taps to advantage and the immense ground pressure he’d apply.

It’s crap, and was never called out in the media for what it was.
Click to expand...

Yeah even at his best you always had some journo finding some stat or area of his game to have a whinge about.
 
Boohemian said:
He’s copped it his entire career. Early stages he used to get comments along the lines of “… once he learns the game” even though he grew up playing footy with Chris Yarran and Lewis Jetta.

In the latter stages of his career it was all about the lack of marking regardless of the taps to advantage and the immense ground pressure he’d apply.

It’s crap, and was never called out in the media for what it was.
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Walters, not Jetta. I mean he probably knew Jetta, but Walters was the third in the SD trio that year.
 
Went through some tough times and imo, should have slimmed down a few years ago to save his knees.

Did his mums passing affect us in the 15 GF. maybe / maybe not.

I think our midfield lost its midfield craft as they relied on him so much.

With the passing of each generation, more unique players surprise me as I think I'll never see another maestro in our team again.

My comments in now way detract the Goliath he was. An unstoppable force that when on song, no one could stop. An absolute privilege to watch him, when he went on a rampage.

The right call was made, which doesn't make it any easier.

I'll always remember the time when he was playing Essendon in a scratch match, after his debut season. I was fielding non stop texts: Nic Nat again. Again. Again. Couldn't wait to get home and watch the recorded game.

Vale Nic Nat
 

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My favourite memory of Nic was when he came off the first knee reco having rehab'ed in the US. Straight away started hitting blokes like a line backer until the f-wits in AFL made a new rule never to be repeated that a big player need to not hurt others even if delivered text book perfect.
 
Feels like yesterday when I saw Campbell Brown line up next to him at full back. Still have a chuckle seeing Browny try and get under his skin with some push and shove.

A star was born that night.
 
I always remember dwayne’s call against the doggies where he shouted “Nic Natanui hits the game like lightning hits the night sky”. While I laugh at that he truly was electrifying and a force of nature when he hunted the man or ball.


Nic Nat/Boots is one of the greatest ruck/rocer combo’s of the game and losing them in the same year hurts as much as losing Judd and Cousins at the end of 2007.
 

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I remember Chris Scott after a Geelong/Eagles match in 2020 when Nic dominated. I can't remember the exact statement but he said something like: "The only bad thing about scoring a goal against West Coast is that the ball has to then go back to the CBD where Nic Nat is."
 
kaII said:
After how shitty 2008 was, it was one of those moments when fans could sense that there was a future to be excited about.

It's an amazing feeling, and one I can't wait to experience again soon - particularly given how much lower we've sunk this time around.

Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk
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That game vs hawthorn in tassie when hawks put Campbell brown on him and he tried to be tough and nn just laughed at him.

I’m sitting there after that horrid season seeing this silver lining!!
 
As well as his athletic highlights, I very much enjoyed the physicalness he brough. Recent highlights were the time he smashed Karl Amon in a great tackle (even though he got suspended for not calculating the weight differential) and when Zach Merrett pulled his hair on the boundary so Nic choke slammed him.
 

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