West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui has nominated Eagles assistant Scott Burns as his choice to replace John Worsfold in charge of the club.

Naitanui said Fremantle assistant and former Eagles star forward Peter Sumich was another option.

But he said former Collingwood midfielder Burns was ready to step up to the top job.

“Burnsy, obviously being my midfield coach, he brings a lot,” Naitanui told reporters in Melbourne on Tuesday night.

“He’s a very wise man, he’s brought a lot since he’s come from Collingwood and he’s worked under Woosh for the last five years as well.

“I just think he’s probably the right man to do it.

“But if they choose someone else I’m sure it’s going to be the right decision as well.”

Worsfold, the 2006 premiership coach, stood aside last week after 12 years in the job, with assistant David Teague announcing on Tuesday he was also leaving, to return to Victoria.

The Eagles have also lost strategy coach Phil Walsh, who has quit to return to South Australia, since their season ended.

Naitanui said Worsfold’s decision came as a shock, but the players respected his choice.

The athletic ruckman-forward, who was restricted to 11 games by a groin injury this season, said he had shelved plans to go overseas in the off-season so he could get his body in shape for next season.

He said his problems this year related to the osteitis pubis for which he had surgery last year and the fact that he pushed himself to return in round six this year after the Eagles started the season poorly.

“We had, I think, one win in our first five games and I wanted to come back pretty early,” he said.

“Coming back and playing and playing in the ruck is pretty taxing and takes a bit of a toll on your body.

“Especially on my groin, it flared it up and got sore again.

“I’m pretty confident in our medical staff for getting it right for next year.”

Naitanui said he was currently at the club four days a week, running and lifting weights to regain fitness ahead of a new pre-season.