World Footy News

There is no longer any doubt that 18 year old Fijian sensation Nicholas Naitanui, unlucky to miss last years AFL draft by just two days, will make the grade to be selected into the AFL. The only question remaining is just how high will he be taken.

The talented and agile 198cm dreadlocked junior is blazing a trail for Swan Districts in the semi-professional WAFL competition against seasoned players.

Nick had a standout performance in last year's Under 18 national championships for Western Australia and was one of just 30 juniors in Australia to win an AIS scholarship. Almost half of those scholarship players are now listed with AFL clubs. Since then he has grown taller and stronger and not stopped impressing. He has drawn consistent attention for his athleticism, vertical leap, ability to win the hard ball and multiple efforts in a contest.

Testament to his athleticism is that he could have represented Fiji in the Beijing Olympics, after qualifying for the high jump with a leap of 2 metres.

Naitanui was born in Penrith in the western suburbs of Sydney to Fijian parents, before moving to Brisbane where he began playing football and then his current home Perth.

The much hyped junior has made the press several times since missing the draft. Including the articles Fijian flyer Naitanui thrills clubs from the Herald Sun and WA teenager looks next big thing in footy on the AFL site.

While no clubs have officially expressed interest in Naitanui, if he does get picked top of the draft as many are tipping, then he would set a number of interesting precedents. It could make him the first #1 pick in history of the draft to originate from Western Sydney and New South Wales (although he is now WA-based) and the first to be born to parents from outside of Australia.

Although footy is now played on several Pacific islands, it is still not played in Fiji, but with the increasing amount of highly talented Pacific islander heritage finding its way into the AFL, there is every reason for it to be. Other sports are already enjoying the fertile recruiting grounds.