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Janet Linn reporting for AFANA from Subiaco Oval

Gale force winds and teeming rain made for challenging conditions in the Round 13 encounter between the West Coast Eagles and reigning Premiers Hawthorn. It may have been an unlikely stage for individual brilliance, but the rugged weather was not enough to stop Nic Naitanui from showing the special brand of football magic that caught the eye of West Coast Eagles recruiters and saw him taken at number two in the 2008 AFL Draft. At 6 foot 7 inches and 211 pounds, Naitanui 's physical presence combined with his Fijian heritage and distinctive dreadlocks is a crowd magnet but on Saturday night it was his football heroics, in only his second AFL game, that showed fans a legend in the making. His three last quarter goals were the difference in an otherwise even match and the unfancied Eagles produced the boilover of the round.

Despite a series of average performances so far this season, Hawthorn started clear favorites with this game a must-win for them to stay in the race for the Finals. The first quarter was a tame affair with wintry weather causing lots of stoppages and crowded conditions. Players' ball skills were affected although Hawthorn made good use of their opportunities scoring four goals through Jarryd Roughead, Sam Mitchell and Lance Franklin. West Coast's two goals came from Mark LeCras making a welcome return from injury.

Roughead caught West Coast's defense napping early in the second quarter taking an uncontested mark in the forward line and scoring his second to give the Hawks an 18 point buffer. The Eagles showed great team character to rebound strongly. Goals to Andrew Embley, LeCras and Mitchell Brown brought them even with the Hawks. Not resting on their laurels, they threw everything at the opposition, taking the lead after Matt Priddus and Brad Ebert combined to produce a long wind-assisted but nevertheless inspirational goal. While the Eagles lifted their intensity the Hawks wilted under pressure. Tyson Stenglein goaled in his 100th game for the Eagles after producing the play of the day to catch Jordan Lewis holding the ball in the Hawks’ backline. The Hawks looked nonplussed by the five goal turnaround. With West Coast looking set to run away with the game, the Hawks tried to settle their play. Sam Mitchell continued to get plenty of the ball in the center but the weather conditions hampered the Hawks’ forward attacks and the wind played havoc with their kicking on goal. They did well to stay close to the Eagles who led by 14 points at the major break after LeCras scored his fourth goal, converting with a wet ball from 50 meters out.

Conditions worsened as the second half got under way. Wind, rain and a heavy ball plagued the forwards for both sides. The Hawks scored with a quick goal to Campbell Brown after he used his body to great effect to muscle Embley out of his way. Although West Coast had a lot of possession they made minimal impact on the scoreboard and it was the Hawks who scored again through Michael Osborne. Chris Masten began to dominate in the middle of the ground for the Eagles providing the forwards with opportunities but the Hawks persisted and a free kick to Franklin put the Hawks in front by a point. The lead seesawed back and forth. Roughead and Kennedy then Franklin and Kerr traded goals setting the final quarter up as a ripper with the margin a tiny three points at three quarter time.

Kicking with the wind in the final quarter should have given the Eagles the edge but the Hawks had most to lose with the defense of the Premiership Cup resting on the outcome of this game. Powering forward and putting the Hawks’ defense under pressure, David Wirrpanda goaled to put the West Coast ahead by 3 points. The Hawks rushed the ball forward to score a point before Mitchell kicked beautifully to Roughead who made no mistake, slotting through his fifth and grabbing back the lead. From the ashes rose the phoenix Nic Naitanui who to this point had played an unremarkable game. After smothering a ball on the goal line in the pelting rain he weaved past a Hawthorn defender to score a team-lifting six pointer for the Eagles. As the crowd fled to the shelter of the covered stands, Brett Guerra’s kick went out of bounds on the full and Matt Rosa booted the ball long into the Eagles’ goal square. Re-enter Nic Naitanui and an off the ground soccer kick that headed through the goal for his second in as many minutes. West Coast surged again and a successful snap on goal by Josh Kennedy took them to a 14 point lead. The Hawks took the ball forward to Roughead whose poster narrowed the gap to 13 points. Ben McKinley scored again for the Eagles after reading the trajectory of the ball best to mark and goal. His point one minute later put West Coast ahead by 19 points in a five goal to one quarter. Again Naitanui put his stamp on the game. An exceptional handpass intercept showcased his outstanding reflexes. As he ran forward - with a Hawthorn player in hot pursuit - he bounced, lost control of the wet ball, bent his long body to the ground while running flat out, scooped up the ball, ran some more with the Hawk player still on his tail and scored one of the goals of the season. The crowd lifted as one, the roar was deafening and try as they might, the Hawks were done for the day. West Coast ran out victors by 20 points breaking a five game losing streak while the Hawks lost their third of the last four games.

Although the Hawks Premiership defense looks to be in tatters, the big story coming out of the game was Nic Naitanui whose three last quarter goals were the difference between the two teams. His freakish skills have sparked Naitanui fever in Perth and prompted reports of the birth of a star. Certainly Naitanui has the X factor which appeals to fans. Interestingly he inherited the number 9 jumper left vacant after the departure of former Eagles icon Ben Cousins. It seems West Coast merchandising has an heir to the Cousins' throne with rumors sweeping the city that there is now an Eagles beanie complete with dreadlocks for fans to enjoy!


Scoreboard
West Coast 2.3 8.6 10.9 16.11 (107)
Hawthorn   4.3 6.4 11.7 13.9  (87)

Best
West Coast Q Lynch, D Wirrpanda, D Glass, M Priddus, M LeCras, N Naitanui, C Masten
Hawthorn   S Mitchell, L Hodge, J Roughead, L Franklin, C Bateman

Article last changed on Thursday, July 02, 2009 - 9:55 AM EDT


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