With 15 seasons with the West Coast Eagles under his belt, and having just been inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame this year, it’s no surprise Nic Naitanui is widely regarded as one of the AFL’s greatest ruckmen.
But since retiring from the game in 2023, Naitanui has hardly taken a moment to rest, co-founding ALTR, an Australian-made functional, sugar-free, and natural soda brand, alongside former teammate Jack Redden and Darcy Wilkosz.
It’s a career pivot even Naitanui says he didn’t predict, but with the functional soda and non-alcoholic drinks market growing at an exponential rate in Australia, the Eagles legend says he quickly developed a passion for perfecting a range of good-for-you sodas that could be enjoyed by everyone.
“We’re seeing that the decline in alcohol is real, and this Gen Z crew, they’re happily partying and stuff without alcohol,” Naitanui tells today’s Body+Soul.
But aside from cracking open a crisp can of his very own soda to get him through the 3 PM slump, Naitanui has a few go-to wellness habits that keep him feeling his best, most of which he picked up during his time in the AFL.
“We’ve been pretty privileged to have full-time physios, doctors and ice baths, recovery centres and wellness places for a good part of 15 to 20 years,” he says, adding that his recent transition into a coaching role within the club means his access to such state-of-the-art facilities has also been restored.
With his coaching role with the Eagles demanding a fair amount of travel, navigating the dreaded West Coast to East Coast time difference (and the sleep schedule of two toddlers) has Naitanui prioritising good quality sleep when he can.
“I’ve got two young kids now, and trying to navigate their sleep and my own sleep is a task in itself,” he says. “I think there are a hundred different little things that people try, but I think sleep is probably the one that I’d hold in the highest regard. If you nail that and get that right, it just sets you up well for the day.”
Naitanui’s advice for navigating life after footy
Whether purely down to his talent and determination, or also a touch of luck, Naitanui has enjoyed a long and fruitful career in the AFL, playing 15 seasons on the field, and now stepping back into the game to coach West Coast’s ruckmen.
And while the AFL legend has no shortage of on-field tips and game advice for emerging players, with the average career of today’s players spanning only three to four years, Naitanui says diversifying skills and having a balance away from sport is essential.
“I was pretty privileged with my early days and my coach, John Worsfold. He was a pharmacist by profession and obviously was the captain at West Coast back in the day, and a very successful coach and player, but every couple of Wednesdays, you had to come in and check off a list showing him what you’re doing outside of football,” recalls Naitanui.
“He always spoke about Plan B.”
“My advice is to always have a balance away from sport,” reiterates Naitanui. “You’d find some of the better players have a hobby outside, whether it’s surfing, working, or having a trade.”
Having witnessed fellow players struggle to transition beyond playing professionally, the Hall-of-Fame player says it’s imperative to find something that challenges you outside of your comfort zone.
“That’s sort of why the drink space sort of appealed to me because it’s not natural, and most past players go and start a clothing line or do something along those lines, and I just wanted to be a part of something that I had no idea about, and I wanted to sort of learn and challenge myself,” he says.
Having inspired a generation of young players, making his mark (literally) in the AFL history books, Naitanui says he himself still looks up to the sports legends that inspired him growing up.
“I look at a lot of the guys that played sport, not just football, cricketers and basketballers that played in the early 90s and didn’t have the sort of resources that we had or what the current generation has.”
“I look at how they maintain their body, how they go about their everyday life, whether they’re doing some sort of movement or Pilates and surfing in the afternoon,” he says.
“It’s not just eating and drinking healthy food and exercise, it is also the mental stuff too that I think plays a big role.”