West Coast is only eight games into the 2020 campaign but star wingman Andrew Gaff has seen enough to believe talismanic teammate Nic Naitanui is influencing matches more than ever.
Having overcome two knee reconstructions and then a serious ankle injury late last year, Naitanui enjoyed a standout pre-season and the results are showing.
While the spring-heeled big man’s impact on matches hasn't been doubted by anyone who closely watches his elite stoppage craft and follow-up work, Naitanui’s consistency so far this season hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Taking on and beating top-shelf ruckmen Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy already, Naitanui could be in All Australian contention again after making the side in 2012 and earning a 40-man squad nomination three years later.
The 202cm behemoth is ranked elite for centre clearances (2.2 per game), total clearances (5.5) and hit-out win percentage (62.9), and above average for inside 50s (three) and pressure acts (12.3).
The Eagles have righted the ship around with four-straight wins to be back in the thick of the finals race, and Naitanui has been a driving force behind the resurgence.
“I think this has been his most influential season so far,” Gaff told SEN.
“We’ve played eight games and I reckon in every game he’s had a really good impact. I think Nic’s consistency so far this year has been his absolute strength.
“We know the impact he has, albeit on limited game time compared to the other top ruckmen in the competition.
“But his consistency of output against guys like Grundy and Gawn, and we play Tim English who is going really well in quite a few weeks’ time, those guys are all amongst the best but I reckon Nic’s been as good, if not better, than all of them so far.
“We’ve been kicking goals out of the ruck as well which is really important and it definitely gives all us midfielders extra confidence having him around, and we know how good his tackling pressure is as well.”
Gaff has again been a model of consistency himself, collecting at least 24 disposals in six of eight matches despite the shortened quarters.
The 28-year-old believes the team has clicked into gear after some soul-searching following three losses to restart the season, but is wary of a powerful Geelong line-up awaiting the Eagles at Optus Stadium this Saturday night.
“I think you just figure things out a little bit more. We weren’t playing great footy. No doubt when you’re losing a couple your confidence individually but also as a team can waver a little bit,” Gaff said.
“But I think since that Sydney game where we played very well also, albeit against an undermanned Sydney team, you grow a little bit in confidence each week and that probably showed against Collingwood on Sunday.”
