NIC NAITANUI has promised teammate Callum Sinclair the prize for mark of the year if he wins for his spectacular grab during West Coast's victory over Geelong on Sunday afternoon.
The Eagles star launched himself onto the shoulders of his 200cm ruck partner to take a mark of the year contender in the last quarter.
Naitanui slotted the set shot from a tough angle to push to margin to a comfortable 32 points after his teammates had kicked poorly for goal all afternoon.
Improvement no.1 goal: Simpson
Sinclair told AFL.com.au that Naitanui promised him a reward for the ride.
"He's promised me the (prize) if he wins it this year," Sinclair said.
"I was actually pretty dirty. I thought he was going to hold out and let me have a crack one-on-one but I soon found out that that wasn't the case.
"Hopefully he wins it this year. That'll help me out.
"I thought he dropped it actually, on the way down. I'm happy for him."
Eagles coach Adam Simpson acknowledged the great mark but was more pleased Naitanui kicked the goal at a critical moment in the match.
"It was a pretty good mark," Simpson said.
"I reckon he had a look at City Beach there for awhile given how high he was up.
"For me it was more the conversion to be honest. We couldn't kick goals and when he took that grab it was important that he went back and kicked it, so I wasn't really in the spectator mode. I think it was a pretty good one."
Naitanui was one of the Eagles' best against the Cats with 36 hit-outs, 17 disposals, seven clearances, two contested marks and two goals.
However, Simpson did not feel it was Naitanui's best game under his reign as Eagles coach.
"No, no, I think he's played better games," Simpson said.
"I can't think off the top of my head. But he didn't have too much to ruck against. No disrespect to the Geelong rucks but they were probably light on in that department coming into the game but when they lost two of them Nic took advantage.
"Look, he took a really good mark and people might, not shut up, but quieten up a little bit about him taking marks and all that sort of stuff.
"But when he takes marks like that and kicks a really important goal he obviously has a big influence on the game. He's always contributed with his contested ball and clearances for most of the year.
"I think what Nic realised today is, when he's up and about and having an influence, what damage he can do."
