Nic Naitanui facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nic Naitanui |
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Naitanui playing for West Coast in April 2018
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Nicholas Naitanui | ||
| Nickname(s) | Nic Nat | ||
| Date of birth | 4 May 1990 | ||
| Place of birth | Penrith, New South Wales | ||
| Original team | Swan Districts (WAFL) | ||
| Draft | No. 2, 2008 national draft | ||
| Position(s) | Ruck | ||
| Career highlights | |||
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Nicholas Naitanui (born May 4, 1990) is a famous former Australian rules footballer. He played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). Nic Naitanui was born in Sydney to parents from Fiji. His family later moved to Perth, Western Australia. He grew up in Midvale and started playing football for the Midvale Junior Football Club.
After playing for Western Australia in the Under-18 Championships, he joined the Swan Districts Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). The West Coast Eagles picked Naitanui as the second overall player in the 2008 AFL Draft. He made his AFL debut in 2009 and quickly became known for his amazing athletic skills.
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Early Life and Football Start
Nic Naitanui was born on May 4, 1990, in Penrith, New South Wales, along with his twin brother, Mark. His parents had moved to Australia from Fiji the year before. Sadly, his father passed away when Nic and his brother were very young. After this, his mother moved the family to Perth, Western Australia, to be closer to her brother.
Nic grew up in Midvale, Western Australia. He started playing football at nine years old for the Midvale Junior Football Club. Interestingly, several other future AFL players, like Shane Yarran, Michael Walters, Chris Yarran, David Ellard, and Jeff Garlett, also played with him there.
School and Other Sports
Naitanui went to Governor Stirling Senior High School. He played football for his school and for the Swan Districts Colts (underage) team. He mostly played as a ruckman, but sometimes played on the wing or at full-back.
Besides football, Nic was also a talented basketball player for the Perry Lakes Hawks. He was also very good at track and field events, especially high jump. He was even asked to try out for American universities for basketball, but he chose to focus on Australian rules football.
Becoming a Top Draft Pick
In 2007, Naitanui was a standout player in the Under-18 AFL National Championships. He was so good that many AFL clubs wanted him. He was named in the Under-18 All-Australian Team in both 2007 and 2008. He also received a special scholarship to join the AIS/AFL Academy Squad, which helps young athletes develop.
Before the 2008 AFL Draft, Naitanui showed off his amazing skills at the Draft Camp. He equaled a record for the running vertical jump. His speed, agility, and endurance tests were also very impressive. Many experts thought he might be the very first player picked in the draft.
AFL Career Highlights
Starting Strong: 2009–2015
The West Coast Eagles picked Nic Naitanui as the second player overall in the 2008 AFL Draft. He was given the number 9 jersey, which was a big deal because a famous player, Ben Cousins, had worn it before. Nic made his first senior game on June 13, 2009, against Richmond.
He quickly showed how athletic he was, taking amazing marks (catches) and helping his team. In his second game, he kicked three goals in the final quarter to help the Eagles win. In 2010, he was nominated for the AFL Rising Star award, which celebrates young, talented players. He also won the West Coast's Rookie of the Year Award.
In 2012, Naitanui was named the starting ruckman in the All-Australian team. This was a huge honor, and he was the first player of Fijian heritage to achieve this. In 2013, he kicked a goal after the siren (the final buzzer) to win a game against North Melbourne by just two points. This was a truly memorable moment! He played his 100th AFL game in 2014.
Facing Challenges: ACL Injuries (2016–2018)
In 2016, Nic Naitanui kicked a game-winning goal with only four seconds left against the GWS Giants. However, in the very next game, he suffered a serious injury. He tore his ACL in his left knee, which meant he missed the rest of the 2016 season.
He then missed the entire 2017 season while recovering. In 2018, after playing 15 games, he unfortunately tore the ACL in his *right* knee. This meant another long recovery, and he missed the 2018 AFL premiership where his team, the West Coast Eagles, won the championship.
Return and Achievements (2019–2021)
After almost a year away from the game, Naitanui made his comeback in 2019. In 2020, he had his first full season in four years. He was again named in the All-Australian team as the starting ruckman. On October 19, 2020, he won his first John Worsfold Medal, which is given to the West Coast Eagles' best and fairest player. He won this award again in 2021 and was also named in the All-Australian team that year.
Retirement from AFL
In August 2023, Nic Naitanui announced that he was retiring from the AFL. He had not played any games in the 2023 season and only played a few in 2022 due to injuries. He finished his amazing career as one of the most exciting and respected players in the league.
Personal Life
In August 2022, Nic Naitanui got engaged to his partner, Brittany Bown. They welcomed their first child, a son, in October 2022. They were expecting a daughter in November 2023. In September 2024, Naitanui became the number one ticket holder for the Perth Wildcats, a basketball team.
In the Media
Naitanui was featured in a 2021 documentary TV series called Making Their Mark. This show followed several AFL clubs, players, and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. It gave viewers a behind-the-scenes look at their lives and challenges.
Images for kids
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Nic Naitanui playing for West Coast in April 2018
