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West Coast Eagles staff member in fiery clash with cameraman

A West Coast Eagles staffer has been filmed tangling with a cameraman trying to get a shot of injured star Nic Naitanui.

Naitanui landed at Perth Airport on Monday night after re-injuring his knee against Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday.

With fans eagerly awaiting news on the injured ruckman’s scans, the cameraman was standing in a car park as Naitanui emerged from the terminal.

But one staff member took exception to the cameraman’s actions, pushing him back roughly and telling him to ‘p*** off’.

Over the top of understandable? Image: AFL.com.au
Over the top of understandable? Image: AFL.com.au

The media world was quick to condemn the staffer’s ‘ridiculous’ actions.

“That’s an embarrassment for the West Coast Eagles,” Channel 7’s Sam McLure said on Talking Footy.

AFL 360 co-host Gerard Whateley supported that sentiment.

“It was reasonably natural that it was going to be documented as he returned, and those shots would happen,” he said.

“No-one’s in his personal space. If anybody’s jostling him in that position, then absolutely that’s (OK).

Nic Nat can’t take a trick. Image: AAP
Nic Nat can’t take a trick. Image: AAP

“But that seemed to be at a respectful distance, documenting what was going on, and it’s unnecessary.”

“We’re not treating Nic Naitanui like a criminal,” Mark Robinson added.

“The Eagles should apologise for that. That is ridiculous.

“We just care about Nic Nat, and that’s the name of the game. He gets filmed doing great things and unfortunately when things go bad, as they have at the moment, it’s part of the news cycle.”

However a number of former players could understand the staffer’s actions given the emotional time for the club.

“Emotions are running high,” Luke Darcy said on Talking Footy.

“He’s just about to miss 18 months of his career and it’s an emotional time.

“It was over the top but you can understand it.”

“It’s an invasion of space,” added Campbell Brown.

West Coast’s worst fears were later confirmed, with scans showing a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Naitanui suffered the injury in innocuous fashion during the second quarter of Sunday’s win over Collingwood at the MCG.

The 2012 All-Australian underwent scans on Monday morning, with Eagles coach Adam Simpson later confirming the ACL rupture.

Naitanui missed all of last year after tearing the ACL in his left knee in 2016.

If the 28-year-old needs a similar recovery time for his latest injury, it’s unlikely he’ll play at all next year.

Players normally need around 10-12 months recovery time from traditional knee reconstructions.

But given Naitanui’s size and explosive nature, West Coast took a conservative approach last time, giving the big man closer to 19 months.

The injury is a bitter blow to second-placed West Coast, who are well positioned to mount a premiership assault.

with AAP