West Coast ruckman Nathan Vardy says he was shattered to see Nic Naitanui get cut down by a knee injury, and has vowed to do his best to fill the void during the finals series.
Naitanui's AFL season was brought to a halt when he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the round 17 win over Collingwood.
It was another cruel outcome for Naitanui after he missed the entire 2017 season with an ACL tear in his left knee.
Vardy knows the heartache of ACL injuries all too well, having torn one at Geelong's pre-season training in 2014.
The 27-year-old said his heart went out to Naitanui.
"I had a few boys around my house to watch it on television that day," Vardy said.
"We were all shattered. Having done a knee myself, I know the pain and know what's ahead of him."
Vardy's thoughts for Naitanui soon turned into a realisation that he would now have to step up and try to fill the void.
The former Geelong big man had only played one senior game in 2018 up until that point, but Naitanui's injury meant he would now be required to back up Scott Lycett in the ruck.
"I think yeah that's where your head naturally goes to," Vardy said.
"If someone in your position gets injured, you start to think, 'It's probably me that's going to have to come up into that position to fill it'.
"I can't do or play the role as well as what Nic can. I just have to play to my strengths and help the team in that way."
Vardy has averaged a modest 16 hit-outs and seven possessions per game this season, as well as kicking five goals.
But his presence has ensured that Lycett hasn't been over-worked.
The duo will have their work cut out for them when they take on Collingwood's All-Australian ruckman Brodie Grundy in Saturday night's qualifying final at Optus Stadium.
West Coast will be boosted by the return of forward Josh Kennedy (shin) and defender Lewis Jetta (calf), while Collingwood will welcome back Jeremy Howe (thigh).
The Magpies are also considering whether to roll the dice on star midfielder Adam Treloar, who has recovered from a rare double hamstring injury.
Meanwhile, Vardy has played 29 games in his two years at West Coast.
He managed just 25 in seven injury-plagued years at Geelong.
"It's a bit embarrassing taking nine years to get to 50 games," Vardy said.
"It's just good to be able to play football more consistently now."
