The West Coast Eagles couldn’t have been happier with the return of star ruckman Nic Naitanui, but now face a nervous wait after he threw his weight around in third quarter of their AFL elimination final win over Essendon.
West Coast got the job done at Optus Stadium on Thursday, beating the Bombers by 55 points to open the AFL finals series in style.
Much of the focus was on the return of Naitanui for his first game since round 17.
It was just his fourth game back from his second knee reconstruction, a procedure that cost him a place in the Eagles’ premiership-winning line-up last year.
Naitanui had a brilliant first half, highlighted by up of nine possessions, 11 hitouts, two clearances and a crunching chase down tackle on Adam Saad.
But early in the third quarter his successful comeback took a twist when he was tackled by Essendon midfielder Zach Merrett.
After Naitanui got his kick away, a melee developed after he shoved Merrett, who grabbed one of his dreadlocks.
Naitanui reacted by cannoning Merrett into a boundary fence before the match officials restored order.
Soon after Naitanui channelled his power appropriately when he chased down Will Snellling and earned a holding the ball free kick after the Bomber copped a brutal tackle.
The Eagles will now be hoping the AFL tribunal takes a lenient view of the first potential controversy of the finals series given Naitainui will be an asset either Collingwood or Geelong at the MCG on Friday week.
Merrett was also placed on report following the incident.