West Coast skipper Darren Glass has backed Nic Naitanui to return to form, saying there’s no pressure on the star ruckman to start tearing open games like he did in 2012.
Naitanui has been slow to build towards peak fitness and form after being blighted by groin injuries over the past 18 months.
The 2012 All-Australian has taken just one mark in his past four games, while he has failed to kick a goal during that period.
AFL greats such as Tony Shaw, Scott Lucas, Brad Hardie and Garry Lyon have questioned Naitanui’s effectiveness, especially in the wake of West Coast’s three-match losing run.
Lucas went as far as describing Naitanui as a great athlete but a poor footballer.
Glass said it was wrong to measure Naitanui’s output purely on stats, claiming the 23-year-old was building solidly and was still having an impact on games.
“Internally there’s not an issue,” Glass said ahead of Sunday’s western derby against Fremantle.
“We know he’s building and he’s got some more gears to go.
“We know the hard work he’s putting in and the character that he’s got and the preparation he’s coming off, so internally there’s no pressure coming on Nic.
“It’s not always about kicks and stats and possessions and that sort of stuff.
“We’re comfortable with where he’s at.”
Naitanui will need every bit of his trademark leap this week when he confronts Fremantle’s 211cm giant Aaron Sandilands in the ruck.
The Dockers have been boosted by the return of Hayden Ballantyne from suspension, while defender Michael Johnson is free to play after accepting a reprimand for making unnecessary contact with an injured player.
Glass missed last week’s three-point loss to Carlton after being handed a one-week suspension for his heavy bump on Port Adelaide’s Chad Wingard.
And if serving a suspension wasn’t punishment enough, Glass copped some more flak when he attended Fremantle’s clash with North Melbourne last week.
“I think Simmo (coach Adam Simpson) set me up. He put me right in the lion’s den there. I felt a bit under threat,” Glass said with a laugh.
West Coast’s losing run has heaped early pressure on the club, but Fremantle are in the same boat after losing three of their past four matches.
