Naitanui just one step from return

WEST Coast coach Adam Simpson has confirmed Nic Naitanui will make his AFL return this weekend – as long as the star ruckman gets through training.

Naitanui has trained strongly in recent weeks, and Simpson said the 2012 AllAustralian was set to return against Sydney at Perth’s new Optus Stadium on Sunday.

It will be his first AFL match since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in Round 22 in 2016.

“I want to see him get through training again, tick off one more session,” Simpson said before the club’s closed training session yesterday. “If he gets through that, he’ll play.

“Things happen at training. Let’s get through that. But he’s in a good space. He’s in good condition and he’s ready to play.” Naitanui’s minutes will be managed against Sydney. left

But Simpson said his star ruckman would go “full bore” when he was on the field. But he also urged fans to be patient with Naitanui, saying the 27year- old needed to be given time to find his feet again.

“There’s been a lot of change since the last time he’s played. It’s been a full season,” Simpson said. “There’s been some rule changes that he hasn’t had to deal with as a ruckman. That’s all exciting.”