Local hero returns to coach youth

Five years into his high-profile AFL career, it was a reaction to which the ruckman-forward is becoming more accustomed. Naitanui and team mates Jamie Bennell, Brad Dick and Murray Newman visited the school last Thursday and put a group of students through their paces as they umpired a friendly game of football during the lunch break. Naitanui ” a Midland local ” and his team mates also shared some of their exercise, training and eating regimes with the awestruck students. Bennell went through a day-by-day account of what the Eagles’ players do throughout the week to prepare for their big weekend games. Gentle giant Naitanui took it all in his stride, preferring to let his deeds on the field speak for themselves. However, he was a little more candid in his thoughts as he launched a new Nike shop in Perth city on Wednesday. Naitanui revealed he did not feel his growing celebrity was anything special.  ‘You just go out there to do your job,’ he said. ‘[But] when you do look a little bit different, your profile is little bigger and you do stand out a bit.’