Naitanui signs five-year Eagles deal
Nic Naitanui has signed a five-year deal that will bring him close to being a West Coast player for life.
The club officially announced the contract this morning, ending months of speculation over the length of the new playing deal.
thewest.com.au understands the deal is worth about $800,000 a year, with marketing bonuses built into the terms of the contract.
The announcement means the 2012 All-Australian will be 29 when his contract is next due to end.
“It’s great to sign a new contract, which allows me to now just concentrate on playing footy,” Naitanui said in a statement.
“As I said the other day, I have from the very start of this said I was not going to go anywhere.
“The West Coast Eagles is my home. The club has been good to me from the time I got here and I love it here. It’s like family.
“I thoroughly enjoy being a part of the playing group and I reckon we are getting close to real success. I want to be around that because I feel like we are building.”
The deal’s announcement comes amid raging debate in the early part of this season about Naitanui’s fitness and contributions to the team.
The ruckman is averaging just 11 disposals a game this year coming off two seasons plagued by groin injuries and has been criticised heavily by a host of former AFL champions, including Garry Lyon and Scott Lucas.
