Nic Naitanui

Nic Naitanui
Naitanui playing for West Coast in April 2018
Personal information
Full name	Nicholas Mark Naitanui
Nickname(s)	Nic Nat[1]
Date of birth	(1990-05-04) 4 May 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth	Penrith, New South Wales
Original team(s)	Swan Districts (WAFL)
Draft	No. 2, 2008 national draft
Height	202 cm (6 ft 8 in)[2]
Weight	111 kg (245 lb)
Position(s)	Ruck
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2009–2023	West Coast	213 (112)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2023.
Career highlights
3x All-Australian team: 2012, 2020, 2021 2x John Worsfold Medal: 2020, 2021 Mark of the Year: 2015 AFL Rising Star nominee: 2010 Western Australia Under-18: Representative 2007, 2008
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Nicholas Mark Naitanui (/ˌnæɪtəˈnuːi/; 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. 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). Naitanui was drafted by West Coast with the second pick in the 2008 National Draft.

Naitanui made his AFL debut for West Coast in round 12 of the 2009 season, against Richmond. He played ten games in his debut season, and received one Brownlow Medal vote for a three-goal game against Hawthorn. 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. 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.