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NIC NAITANUI thoroughly deserves his nomination in the All Australian squad given his form this season, West Coast teammate and fellow nominee Andrew Gaff says.

North Melbourne's Todd Goldstein and Naitanui were the only two ruckman named in the All Australian 40-man squad on Tuesday.

Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands missed out despite another outstanding season where he averaged a career-best 43.57 hit-outs per game.

Match preview: Second Qualifying Final, Eagles v Hawks

The Eagles had five players make the 40-man squad with Brownlow medallist Matt Priddis, Coleman medallist Josh Kennedy and young defender Jeremy McGovern joining Naitanui and Gaff.

Gaff and McGovern earned their first nominations.

It is the third nomination for both Priddis and Kennedy but neither has made the final 22 previously. Naitanui was selected in the All Australian team in 2012.

Gaff said Naitanui had been simply awesome this season, particularly since the tragic loss of his mother last month.

"He's been unbelievable Nic, especially since the tragic news," Gaff said on Tuesday.

"In the last three or four weeks he's been probably our best player each week. The quality of his ruck work - he's renowned for tapping it to (Luke) Shuey and Priddis all day - but he's also been following up around the ground as well.

"Kicking three goals on the weekend as well, which is important. Especially in finals, in close tight games, we need guys who can kick goals.

"He's definitely added that to his weaponry, and we know how good he's going to be come September."

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Naitanui has kicked 17 goals in 20 matches this season and averaged 33 hit-outs per game - a career high. 

Gaff said the Eagles midfielders are staggered by his ruck skills at times.

"It's unbelievable," Gaff said.

"You are in awe of when guys want the ball in a certain spot he always puts it within a couple of centimetres of that spot. We're very lucky as a footy club."

Both Naitanui and Callum Sinclair are set to play a major part in Friday night's qualifying final against Hawthorn. Neither man played in the round 19 clash at Domain Stadium when the Hawks prevailed by 14 points.

"We were level with them until halfway through the last quarter and just their experienced bodies got them over the line," Gaff said.

"We're all better for the experience that day. We were missing Nic and Callum but I think they were missing a couple as well. We're under no illusions it's going to be unbelievably tough. Those guys have been performing well for so many years. We have to be at our absolute best."

Gaff said it was nice to earn an All Australian nomination but he said finals were more important.

"It's good reward for what we've done so far," Gaff said.

"But we know we've got a few pretty important weeks coming up."