34 Facts About Nic Naitanui

Nicholas Naitanui is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League.

Nic Naitanui was born in Sydney to Fijian parents, and his family moved to Perth, Western Australia after his father's death.

Nic Naitanui was drafted by West Coast with the second pick in the 2008 National Draft.

Nic Naitanui made his AFL debut for West Coast in round 12 of the 2009 season, against Richmond.

Nic Naitanui played ten games in his debut season, and received one Brownlow Medal vote for a three-goal game against Hawthorn.

Nic Naitanui was named in the All-Australian team the following season, as the first-choice ruckman and was the first Fijian to ever be named in the All-Australian team.

Nic Naitanui was born to Bola and Atetha Nic Naitanui on 4 May 1990 in Penrith, New South Wales along with his twin brother, Mark.

Nic Naitanui's father died from cancer the year after Naitanui and his brother were born.

Nic Naitanui's mother began working at Homeswest, a public housing authority, and volunteered at a homeless shelter.

Nic Naitanui grew up in Midvale, near Midland, and attended Midvale Primary School.

Nic Naitanui took up playing football at the age of nine, when he began playing for the Midvale Junior Football Club.

Nic Naitanui attended Governor Stirling Senior High School and played football there, as well as for the Swan Districts Colts side in the West Australian Football League.

Nic Naitanui played basketball as a junior for the Perry Lakes Hawks and excelled at track and field events, particularly high jump.

Nic Naitanui was asked by recruiters to trial with American universities, but declined to do so.

Nic Naitanui managed to equal the running vertical jump record previously set by Jared Brennan, but fell short of Trent Croad's standing jump record.

Many media commentators believed that Nic Naitanui was in contention to be taken as the number 1 pick in the 2008 AFL Draft.

Nic Naitanui was taken at pick No 2 overall in the 2008 AFL Draft by the West Coast Eagles.

Nic Naitanui's career suffered a setback during pre-season training when he experienced knee soreness and had precautionary surgery.

Nic Naitanui impressed enough in the WAFL in a game where he accumulated 15 possessions, 21 hit-outs, 4 goals and a spectacular mark, to earn his selection in the round 12 against Richmond at Etihad Stadium.

Nic Naitanui was honoured with a nomination for the AFL Rising Star in round 4,2010 in the West Coast Eagles win over the Essendon Bombers, a match where Nic Naitanui dominated with 13 disposals, 5 tackles and 17 hitouts.

Nic Naitanui took out the West Coast's Rookie of the Year Award for the 2010 Season and finished fifth in the 2010 Club Champion Award.

In March 2012, a viral video of Nic Naitanui performing a slam dunk at a Perth Wildcats basketball game received over 100,000 views on YouTube.

On 17 September 2012 Nic Naitanui earned his first All Australian Team nomination being named as the starting Ruckman.

Nic Naitanui proceeded to kick a goal after the siren to win the game by 2 points, becoming the 35th AFL player to do so.

Nic Naitanui played his 100th AFL game in round 13,2014, against the Gold Coast Suns.

In 2015 - after a strong season - Nic Naitanui was named in the initial All Australian squad of 40.

In round 21, during the 2016 season, Nic Naitanui kicked a goal with 4 seconds remaining against the GWS Giants, winning the game for the Eagles.

Nic Naitanui ruptured his ACL in the following game, and missed the rest of the 2016 season.

Nic Naitanui was in contention to play his first game for the season in the first semi-final against Greater Western Sydney, but did not play.

In round 17 of the 2018 season, after 15 games back from an injury to his left anterior cruciate ligament, Nic Naitanui landed awkwardly in a contest just before half time of the match against the Collingwood Magpies, suffering the same injury to his right anterior cruciate ligament.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic put a hold at the start of the season, Nic Naitanui had his first full season in 4 years and received all-Australian honours as starting ruckman.

On 19 October 2020, Nic Naitanui received his first John Worsfold medal as the clubs best and fairest.

Nic Naitanui had not played in any games in the 2023 season and had played in just 8 games in the 2022 season.

In September 2024, Nic Naitanui became the number one ticket holder of the Perth Wildcats.