WEST Coast star Nic Naitanui insists he would react the same way if an opponent pulls his dreadlocks again, after copping a fine for shoving Essendon's Zach Merrett into the fence.
Naitanui and Merrett were both hit with $1500 sanctions – down to $1000 with early guilty pleas – after their stoush early in the third quarter during Thursday night's elimination final.
The pair tangled over the boundary and tempers flared among both teams after Naitanui's angry push.
He and Merrett shook hands, apologised to each other and laughed the incident off after the Eagles' thumping win, but Naitanui warned he wouldn't take a repeat lightly.
"Nah, I think I'll react the same way if someone did it again," Naitanui said.
"If someone came and punched you in the face, you're not going to let them punch you in the face and walk away.
"I think everyone is going to set their standard of what they accept and what they don't accept.
"it was just an instinctive move, I think. Probably because the vicinity of where it was and the fans getting involved it makes it a lot bigger than what it was.
"But we shake hands and move on at the end of the game."
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Naitanui joked he had only seen hair pulled by school children and when rugby players tried to grab Wallabies great George Smith's dreadlocks.
"The South Africans used to do it as a bit of a token, whoever can get a dreadlock was seen as the beneficiary and the winner," he said.
"I didn't expect it and I think I just reacted the way I did because of what it was.
"I think someone was trying to sell a replica dread of mine online, so it was all fun and games."
The Eagles would be relieved Naitanui is free to face Geelong this Friday night after watching the marquee big man impose himself in his comeback against the Bombers.
From 53 per cent game time, the 201cm star helped West Coast score 42 points from centre clearances – the second-highest score recorded by any side this year.
Naitanui's brilliant tapwork gave the Eagles' midfield an instant boost and his chasedown tackle on Adam Saad was another indication that his ankle syndesmosis issue is behind him.
"I think probably the first centre bounce is probably the biggest test, if anything," Naitanui said.
"Jumping and landing is probably the biggest one, but once you're out there your instinct takes over and you're just playing footy – you don't really think about hurting yourself.
"It's good to see I'm able to do that still and pull up OK from it."
Naitanui trained during a light session on Monday, along with defender Jackson Nelson after a head knock, and looms as a match-winner against the Cats as they deal with their ruck dilemma.
Rhys Stanley was omitted from Geelong's loss to Collingwood, leaving full-back Mark Blicavs to lead the ruck against All Australian Brodie Grundy.
The move backfired on coach Chris Scott, but Naitanui expected the Cats' midfield to pose a significant threat at the MCG, regardless who is rucking.
"I think a lot of teams in the past who mightn't be as dominant at (getting first) hand from their rucks have figured ways out around that," he said.
"[Geelong has] got one of the best midfields and they've proven that they are one of the best midfields in the comp throughout the year.
"We wouldn't take that lightly or look at it as a chance to expose them.
"There's ways around any deficiencies in any team."
