West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui has made a strong start to his highly-anticipated comeback game in the WAFL.

Naitanui has tallied nine disposals, 12 hitouts, four tackles, and two marks in the first half for West Coast’s WAFL side against East Fremantle.

The 29-year-old dominated in his ruck duels against former Docker Jon Griffin, with some of his deft taps setting up goals.

His biggest highlight came in the second quarter when he unleashed a crunching tackle on East Fremantle’s Morgan Davies.

Davies took a few steps before Naitanui came in from the opposite direction, with the force of the tackle driving the 75kg midfielder back a metre and then into the ground.

Naitanui spent 34 minutes on the field in the first half.

It’s his first game since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the round 17 win over Collingwood last year.

That injury came just two years after he ruptured the ACL in his left knee.

If Naitanui makes it through Saturday’s game unscathed, he’ll line up for the Eagles in next week’s clash with Hawthorn at the MCG.