Ben Cousins was in the room for Nic Naitanui’s emotional farewell press conference – and the Eagles great got a shout-out from the retiring ruck star for uttering some memorable words in his debut game.
Naitanui officially drew the curtain on one of the most memorable careers in West Coast history on Monday, retiring after 213 games after failing to overcome an Achilles issue.
As usual, the three-time All-Australian drew a considerable crowd, with Cousins among the past and present players to applaud the outgoing great at Mineral Resources Park.
When asked what some of his fondest career memories would be, Naitanui cast his mind back to when he was a skinny 19-year-old on debut at Melbourne’s Docklands Stadium against Richmond – which had recently become Cousins’ new AFL club.
“My first game is something that will stick in my mind forever,” Naitanui said on Monday.
“It was against Richmond (in 2009). I was wearing No.9 – obviously (the number of) one of my childhood heroes in Cuzzy.
“He was standing on the other side of the (centre) circle.
“He told me to take his jumper off – not to be wearing it.
“It was his first game for the Tigers back against West Coast. That’s something that will always stay in my mind. We lost that game in the end, but it’s something I have fond memories of.”
Naitanui said he was proud of his rise from the streets of Midvale to one of the most-loved West Coast players of all time.
“I started on Bushby Street kicking the footy between the rubbish bins with some of the great Indigenous players we’ve seen come across the footy field in Michael Walters and Chris Yarran.
“Being able to then run out in front of 50,000 people was a boyhood dream come true.”