Nic Natanui

[Jimmy_the_Gent]

You can't teach a bloke where to position himself to get the football.

Are you serious? I didn't know where to run on the footy field when I was 7 but now I do. How did that happen if I didn't learn it?

I agree that Naitanui has a lot of flaws for a potential #1 pick but I'm of the belief that it's a glass half full or half empty proposition.

Some people will think that for a guy who's new to the game he has a huge influence which will one get more pronounced, while others think he's nowhere near good enough now and never will be.

Basically, the question on everyones mind will be 'Can we teach him to the play the game?' and I think it's easily possible.

 

[Z_K]

Are you serious? I didn't know where to run on the footy field when I was 7 but now I do. How did that happen if I didn't learn it?

He isn't 7 years old. He is being spoken about as the first pick in a very good draft.

I agree that Naitanui has a lot of flaws for a potential #1 pick but I'm of the belief that it's a glass half full or half empty proposition.

Fair enough.

Some people will think that for a guy who's new to the game he has a huge influence which will one get more pronounced, while others think he's nowhere near good enough now and never will be.

I don't think anyone would say he definately won't be good enough. He obviously has some great tools. I am one who would query the merits of spending pick 1 on a bloke who doesn't find the football easily, is a scratchy kick and has no background in the game, not to mention is "in between" height.

Basically, the question on everyones mind will be 'Can we teach him to the play the game?' and I think it's easily possible.

Best case scenario, I think you can teach a natural athlete the game well enough to allow them to compete at a good level, but with 5 minutes left in a Grand Final with the ball in his hands, I want a bloke who knows the game back to front and sideways.

He might be a gun, but pick 1 is a huge punt on a bloke who you can't be certain will make it at all let alone be one of the top few players in the game.

 

[Jimmy_the_Gent]

He isn't 7 years old. He is being spoken about as the first pick in a very good draft.

He isn't 7 but he hasn't been playing the game for a long time. You'd expect that with more experience he'd pick up more of the positioning and that sort of thing.

We're not dealing with a guy who's been playing the game his whole life and has no idea what to do, we're dealing with a guy who's still learning the game.

I don't think anyone would say he definately won't be good enough. He obviously has some great tools. I am one who would query the merits of spending pick 1 on a bloke who doesn't find the football easily, is a scratchy kick and has no background in the game, not to mention is "in between" height.

Best case scenario, I think you can teach a natural athlete the game well enough to allow them to compete at a good level, but with 5 minutes left in a Grand Final with the ball in his hands, I want a bloke who knows the game back to front and sideways.

He might be a gun, but pick 1 is a huge punt on a bloke who you can't be certain will make it at all let alone be one of the top few players in the game.

That's all reasonale enough.

Like I said, some people are going to view Nick as a player who will develop into being worth the #1 pick and others wont. Obviously we're on different sides of the coin there but that's life.

 

[Turbocat]

** Looking for a NicNat thread and found this. Please move if you don't want it in the D&T board anymore

I wouldn't compare him to any AFL player because there isn't any player out there who is even remotely like him.

Theres a few rather awkward statements in this thread but this post was as accurate as any.
There was a comment by David Parkin on Insiders tonight that compared him to Stephen Michael. I wonder if any old timers would be able to confirm this. If so , no wonder Geelong was after him in the 80's

 

[DivideandMultiply]

Jimmy_the_Gent, impressively informed and well considered opinion.

 

[Demonheart]

He isn't 7 but he hasn't been playing the game for a long time. You'd expect that with more experience he'd pick up more of the positioning and that sort of thing.

We're not dealing with a guy who's been playing the game his whole life and has no idea what to do, we're dealing with a guy who's still learning the game.

Didn't he start playing footy when he was around 9 or something? That's a pretty normal age to start the game.

edit: did some quick research

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nic_Naitanui

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 Michael Walters and Chris Yarran, who would both go on to play AFL football, for Fremantle and Carlton, respectively.[6] Two further future AFL players, David Ellard and Jeff Garlett (both Carlton), also played with Naitanui, Walters and Yarran at the Midvale Junior Football Club

It appears he's been playing footy for quite some time with some very decent kids, I'm surprised that he has to learn the game with that kind of history.

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

Yeah, he's had to 'learn' the game no more than the average young ruckman or KPP.

All have to learn a lot to become successful at AFL level - and Nic's learning from one of the best.

 

[DivideandMultiply]

And here come the Melbourne fans.

 

[Demonheart]

And here come the Melbourne fans.

What does the club I barrack for have anything to do with it?

Someone said that he hasn't been playing for long but it looks like he's been playing since he was 9.

Sensitive much? I think so.

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

And here come the Melbourne fans.

Remind me, what exactly did we say that was wrong or unreasonable?

 

[Ghost of Grinter]

Appropriate thread at the time, I remember thinking that Natanui was an athletic freak,
but I wasn't sure how quick he was - he can look slower than he is, as he looks to be cruising.

But, when he goes - damn does he smash it, the blokes a tackling machine/most athletic ruckman we have seen, its a unique blend!

Obviously he still needs to work on his kicking, but that was expected.

 

[sTeeL]

His kicking wasn't flash the other night and he has a high drop which makes it look pretty awkward. Still short on endurance which is why he always looks to be cruising. I reckon hes close though. Needs another 2 pre-seasons to get up to his optimal fitness.

Edit: Wow. Didnt realise how old this thread was... Why would you have to look back that far for a NicNat thread hahaha

 

[The 747]

So he is up for trade?

You can have all our picks and some players.

Hypothetically, if for some reason NickNat decided he had to live in Melbourne it would be the all time trade bidding war.

 

[tesseract]

So he is up for trade?

You can have all our picks and some players.

Hypothetically, if for some reason NickNat decided he had to live in Melbourne it would be the all time trade bidding war.

Geelong should go after Jack Watts, for according to Wonateary he's better than NicNat. Watts already lives in Melbourne too, so that's convenient. Let the biggest bidding war in Aussie Rules history begin.

 

[The Dr]

Personally if we have pick 2 in the draft behind Melbourne and they take Watts i would prefer we take Rich.
Rich to me is a sure thing where as Natanui is a BOOM or BUST type player. Could be Buddy Frankli or could be Jared Brennan.

It appears this is spot on.... Eagles done very well

 

[justbetter]

kind of implies watts was a safe pick so wasn't the greatest prediction.

 

[Upgrayedd]

David Hale+Second round pick or we'll pick him in the PSD, We have the upper hand west coast

Oh wait.....

 

[tesseract]

David Hale+Second round pick or we'll pick him in the PSD, We have the upper hand west coast

Oh wait.....

I see what's wrong with this: Luke McGuane doesn't play for Hawthorn, therefore can not be part of the trade.

 

[The 747]

Geelong should go after Jack Watts, for according to Wonateary he's better than NicNat. Watts already lives in Melbourne too, so that's convenient. Let the biggest bidding war in Aussie Rules history begin.

We arent Melbourne. Surf's good in Geelong NickNat!

 

[maddog37]

How about Cale Hooker and pick 31?

 

[Wizard]

kind of implies watts was a safe pick so wasn't the greatest prediction.

I don't really remember but i think i was implying that Rich was the safe pick actually and that it was a given that Watts was going one.
I guess you can still say Rich is/was a safe pick but sh*t you'd be disappointed taking him over Nat.

 

[Jimmy_the_Gent]

So he is up for trade?

You can have all our picks and some players.

Hypothetically, if for some reason NickNat decided he had to live in Melbourne it would be the all time trade bidding war.

Kind of like the Judd trade.... NOTTE!

 

[Patron]

So he is up for trade?

You can have all our picks and some players.

Hypothetically, if for some reason NickNat decided he had to live in Melbourne it would be the all time trade bidding war.

Bigger than the judd one?

 

[The 747]

Bigger than the judd one?

Would get a higher price because the salary wouldnt be as high as Judds, which ruled a lot of teams out.

It would be epic, Dees might offer Jack Watts.

 

[Hard_to_Beat]

This is the best analysis in the entire thread:

apart form his amazing leap, he's not that flashy

he plays inside and is very physical