WEST Coast remain hopeful that gun ruckman Nic Naitanui will be available for selection in round one against Sydney on March 25 after the big man came through his first match practice in more than 18 months at East Fremantle Oval today.

Naitanui played about 55 minutes in the first three quarters of East Perth’s WAFL practice match against East Fremantle.

He was subbed out at three quarter time and tweeted soon after: “I was a bit rusty but it was great to get out there with the boys and have a run. The body is feeling good”.

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He won 32 hit outs and had 14 disposals opposed to spirited opposition from young East Fremantle ruckman Mick Cronan.

Naitanui appeared tentative about jumping early but late in the first quarter produced a couple of trademark leaps as he gained confidence in his reconstructed knee.

Camera Icon Nic Naitanui flies for a mark in his footy return. Credit: Trevor Collens

He hadn’t played since round 22 of 2016 when his knee collapsed under him on landing after a ruck contest against Hawthorn at Domain Stadium.

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Eagles football manager Craig Vozzo said the hit out had been exactly what the Eagles had been looking for.

“We hit all of the markers we were looking for. Got about an hour of footy. He seems to have pulled up pretty well. It was a good start,” he said.

Camera Icon Naitanui played just under an hour of game time. Credit: Getty Images

“It is a follow on from what he has been doing at training. Nothing adverse. He probably didn’t jump as high as we have seen in the past but there were some encouraging signs. I think we have got a good outcome.”

Vozzo said how Naitanui recovered remained the key to how quickly he was progressed.

“The plan is to take it week by week. We will see how he pulls up and we will make a call on whether he plays another game later in the week,” he said.

He acknowledged the effort was a “step in the right direction” towards playing in round one.

“We will make that decision as we go along but the early signs are good. If we can get another hit out… even if we can’t - he has been covering the ground at training,” Vozzo said.

“He has had a number of heavy sessions which simulate a game but you don’t quite get what he got today in terms of the bodies. We are pushing in the right direction for sure.”

Naitanui didn’t take a mark but won a couple of typical hard-ball gets at ground level and used his bulk well at stoppages.

He played 19 minutes in each of the opening two quarters and a further 17 in the third before leaving the ground.

It came after the West Coast star was flanked by security upon entering East Fremantle Oval for his high-profile return.

The only injury concern for the Eagles in the first half was Hamish Brayshaw, who left the field dazed in the opening quarter after receiving a headknock.