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IT'S EASY to draw comparisons between Esava Ratugolea and Nic Naitanui.
Both of Fijian heritage and sporting dreadlocks, one is an All Australian ruckman while the other is Geelong's latest third-round draft pick.
Like Naitanui, Ratugolea is an athletic big man who can go forward to take a high-flying grab, and he's been rising with a bullet in 2016.
From Cobram Football Club in northern Victoria, the 18-year-old with the infectious personality is now ready to take on the AFL.
"He's not quite as tall as 'Nic Nat' … but definitely physically, his power, his leap and the way he attacks the ball is very Nic Nat-like," Murray Bushrangers talent manager Lee Fraser told AFL.com.au.
"Then there's his ability to influence the contest within that 10m area and his forward pressure as a big man. He's really an imposing figure at times."
Ratugolea was recruited by Geelong with pick No.43 on Friday night and should be given opportunities after the Cats lost a number of talls in the NAB AFL Trade Period.
List manager Stephen Wells said the 18-year-old had bolted into calculations with his strong second half to the season.
"We think he's a project who will develop and will improve and we're confident that once he gets into the AFL system he'll really come one well for us," Wells said.
"He can pinch-hit in the ruck but he'll certainly get the opportunity to develop as a forward."
Ratugolea is a newcomer to Australian football, taking up the game four years ago after playing soccer as a junior.
He was convinced by some friends to give the game a go in 2013 at the local football club in Cobram, starting a rapid learning curve for both him and his rugby-loving family.
So new was the game of Australian football, his family would yell support from the sidelines with terminology like 'knock on' or 'field goal'.
"He's got his mum, his aunty and grandma and a couple of young siblings as well in Cobram," Fraser said.
"He works at the local Target in Cobram and he's got to help put a bit of food on the table for his family.
"He's a really loyal and committed family guy and he's an outstanding character.
"They're a lovely family … it's been a big learning curve for them this year, but they wouldn't have missed a game Esava has played this year."
Fraser described Ratugolea as a vibrant character with an open heart.
He said all 18 AFL clubs would have spoken to him in the past two months following a bag of eight goals mid-season playing for the Bushrangers.
"To a man they've all really enjoyed his company," Fraser said.
