NIC NAITANUI could take his game to another level if he backed himself to take more contested marks, says Richmond great Matthew Richardson.

Speaking on The Whiteboard, Richardson highlighted the young West Coast ruckman's surprising lack of marking impact - he is averaging just three grabs this season - and suggested he should fly for more marks.

"It's actually not a huge strength in his game," Richardson said.

"Because he's always hunted the ball at ground level, I don’t believe he's gone for as many marks as he should. But when he does decide to go for them, he has the ability to take absolute hovers.

"Once he starts to believe in himself, he can definitely have the ability to take eight to nine marks a game."

Naitanui, 22 and with 66 AFL games to his name, is probably four years away from playing at his peak, according to Richardson.

The daunting prospect of stopping Naitanui, Richardson said, comes down to limiting his run at the ball, whether it be around the ground in ruck duels or marking contests. That means maintaining body contact.

But the job doesn't end when the aerial contest has been nullified because, as Richardson, says, "his second efforts are as good as any onballer in the competition".