Nic Nat, time is running out..

[RaisyDaisy]

Pretty encouraging article just published

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-03-18/nic-nat-to-shock-coach

Sounds like he needs to get match fitness up but that's expected, but his leap is right on which is very promising

"Longmuir anticipated Naitanui would play a full game on Sunday but did suggest he could be subbed out late if the opportunity presented itself."

Sounding pretty good now

[Bully]

I'm not so sure it sounds good at all, a lack of match fitness means less ruck time, the threat of subbing should also ring alarm bells. Upgrade target for me.

[RaisyDaisy]

I'm starting Hickey, but for those considering NicNat I think the article is positive. His going to play, and will only get subbed out late in game if possible, but the Doggies could push us to the end and he may stay on all game

Upgrade target for me too

[Marstar]

The only issue there is that NN could be match fit by as early as round 2, and banging out 100+ scores in similar fashion to last year where he came back from injury as the sub in R6, with a 40SC in less than a 1/2, and then went on a 6 week spree averaging 119, before breaking down again.

Personally, I'm considering starting him on the pine, with this threat of becoming the red vest and debuting Currie vs Danihher.  However NN could pull a Fyfey and bang out a tonne regardless of the vest ....

[Marstar]

I'm starting Hickey, but for those considering NicNat I think the article is positive. His going to play, and will only get subbed out late in game if possible, but the Doggies could push us to the end and he may stay on all game

Upgrade target for me too

The "if" possible is very aptly worded. There's every possibility (knock on wood) that that choice is taken away through injury/concussion etc etc etc.

[RaisyDaisy]

The only issue there is that NN could be match fit by as early as round 2, and banging out 100+ scores in similar fashion to last year where he came back from injury as the sub in R6, with a 40SC in less than a 1/2, and then went on a 6 week spree averaging 119, before breaking down again.

Personally, I'm considering starting him on the pine, with this threat of becoming the red vest and debuting Currie vs Danihher.  However NN could pull a Fyfey and bang out a tonne regardless of the vest ....

Interesting Idea

You could bench Currie, make him E. If he spuds up then field NN, if he gets a good score, field King to get Currie's score

[AaronKirk]

The only issue there is that NN could be match fit by as early as round 2, and banging out 100+ scores in similar fashion to last year where he came back from injury as the sub in R6, with a 40SC in less than a 1/2, and then went on a 6 week spree averaging 119, before breaking down again.

Personally, I'm considering starting him on the pine, with this threat of becoming the red vest and debuting Currie vs Danihher.  However NN could pull a Fyfey and bang out a tonne regardless of the vest ....

Interesting Idea

You could bench Currie, make him E. If he spuds up then field NN, if he gets a good score, field King to get Currie's score

Definitely worth some consideration. Now that Nic Nat will play he will probably only take a couple of games to get to match fitness. Therefore his price is unlikely to drop. If you want Nic Nat you probably have to take the punt and pick him. I've got him in now as R1.

[RaisyDaisy]

Definitely worth some consideration. Now that Nic Nat will play he will probably only take a couple of games to get to match fitness. Therefore his price is unlikely to drop. If you want Nic Nat you probably have to take the punt and pick him. I've got him in now as R1.

Looking at my team, the only way I could really turn Hickey into NicNat is by downgrading Suckling (D5) to a rookie.. hmmmm

Suckling and Hickey vs NicNat and Langford/Georgiou?

All of a sudden NicNat is back on my radar, he would be set and forget, where as Suckling and Hickey would both need to be upgraded, so I save trade going with NicNat and rookie....

[colmullet]

I'm thinkin I may take the gamble I'm not overly confortable on him but I'm not overly comfortable on any ruck this year, kinda spewing I didn't follow through on my mummy hunch tho

[tor01doc]

Risky considering his dodgy pre-season.

My SC guru has warned me about dodgy pre-seasons!

[RaisyDaisy]

Risky considering his dodgy pre-season.

My SC guru has warned me about dodgy pre-seasons!

LOL :)

His preseason has been dodgy, but he is a freak, and might even be the exception to the rule

Suckling 80, Hickey 80 vs NicNat 100 Rookie 70, plus save a trade, higher ceiling/average for NicNat too... geez I am convincing myself to make this move!

Teams on Thurs night will make things interesting! Need both Langford and Georgiou to play for this to work

[AaronKirk]

Risky considering his dodgy pre-season.

My SC guru has warned me about dodgy pre-seasons!

LOL :)

His preseason has been dodgy, but he is a freak, and might even be the exception to the rule

Suckling 80, Hickey 80 vs NicNat 100 Rookie 70, plus save a trade, higher ceiling/average for NicNat too... geez I am convincing myself to make this move!

Teams on Thurs night will make things interesting! Need both Langford and Georgiou to play for this to work

Agree with all the points above. Main reason to take the risk with Nic Nat is to start with a keeper and save a trade later in the season.

After the sub affected match against the dogs last year he then score 5 consecutive 100+ scores before the bye. After the bye he got another ton against Hawthorn. The next week against Essendon he looked stuffed. He couldn't jump, He only had one game above 25 hit outs after the bye compared to one below 25 before the bye (not including the sub affected game where he had 17 hit outs). He also after the bye had a 2:3 kick to hand ball ratio and hardly hit the scoreboard.

[auscoyote]

Ive had him all along but have had a bit of doubt and this was posted on BF from a guy at the east perth scratchie they just had.

"Nic Naitanui: Was a passenger for most of the game, very underdone. His beautiful releasing handballs have been missed though and there was one good clearance passage he did. All minutes are good minutes at this stage."

Dont know if i can quote another post from another site but i have :P

Still have my doubts but i am sticking with him.(A bit of favoritism might be involved) :)   

[_wato]

I wouldn't look too much into that mate, I wouldn't expect Nic Nat to not be a passenger early days - he also plays this Sunday. His spurs of brilliance show that he still has it and wasn't hindered in these moments.

I think what pulls him apart from another not as mobile ruck man is just his natural ability and physique - He is like no other player in the game. Osteitis Pubas and his other injuries aswell as a lack of preseason would effect another ruck man much more severely but it's Naitanui, so i'm willing to take him onboard. Worst thing is he averages 100 and doesn't become a top 2 ruck but at his price and with his brilliance I see it as a win-win?

[Sabretooth Tigers]

 ::)
I start with him, and that's one more keeper on the field, one less trade and possibly a loss of up to 110 points over the first two rounds. But as has been discussed in this forum many times " how much is a trade worth " He's in for me and I'll wear what ever that brings.      :)