WHEN Nic Naitanui was a member of the AIS-AFL Academy in 2006, he took stock of what he had learned through a camp with the prestigious squad.
He began to become more confident in his ability, met and made friends with his teammates, and improved in his testing.
In a card of notes written at the time, Naitanui said he got plenty of help to improve and "most of all I had fun".
He jotted down goals for the next camp: learn what it takes to play AFL, get fitter, ask questions and take it all in.
By that stage, Naitanui had shelved ideas of a basketball career and knew he wanted to play footy, jump on and over people to take marks, and run with the ball.
All that and more formed Naitanui's message on Wednesday, when the West Coast ruckman addressed this year's AIS-AFL Academy squads at AFL House.
The players, eligible for the draft over 2014-15, listened intently, and wanted to learn more about how to realise their own football hopes.
"Have fun, but put in a bit extra," Naitanui said of the advice he would give to the group.
"Everyone gets a program telling you what to do, but at the same time you have to put in a little bit extra to get to where you want to get to, and be better than the people next to you.
"They're all pretty talented, it's just about who wants to be better than the other one."
In Naitanui's squad were Trent Cotchin, Daniel Rich, Chris Yarran and Brad Ebert, and his coaches included Michael Voss and Jason McCartney.
Nic Naitanui addresses the new AIS-AFL Academy graduates at AFL House on Wednesday
"It was a bit nerve-wracking but at the same time I was pretty fortunate to have some good coaches," he said.
"The bond still exists, especially with the boys who were from interstate.
"You don’t really know them too well [before the Academy], but in the AIS when you have to share rooms with them you get to learn about them pretty quickly, and after every game you still go and say hello."
Naitanui's later progression to football as his preferred sport also meant it took longer for him to be comfortable in the Academy's squad.
"Later on, when you start playing against the boys, you slowly think 'I deserve to be here' and earn your spot," Naitanui said. "We had some pretty good players in there."
Kevin Sheehan, the AFL's national talent manager, can trace Naitanui's progression through the ranks.
"I clearly remember the uniqueness of what we saw at the under-16s championships," Sheehan said.
"That was just at first glance, a blink of the first bounce and this kid jumping straight over the top.
"He only played a game and a bit and then got hurt, but we had no hesitation picking him.
"On the South Africa tour we were at the table and I was sitting next to him. The conversation was around 'Can you do it? And he said 'I think I can now, and I want to.'"
The 2013/14 AIS-AFL Academy squads are in Melbourne for the first camp of the program, which will see them train at AFL clubs, complete fitness testing, and attend Saturday's Grand Final.
