West Coast ruckman Nathan Vardy says the team want to do Nic Naitanui proud by giving this year's AFL flag a red hot crack.
Naitanui will miss the rest of the season - and probably all of next year as well - after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee earlier this month.
Vardy knows all too well what Naitanui is going through after missing all of 2014 with his own ACL tear.
The 27-year-old also missed out on Geelong's 2011 flag because of a serious hip injury.
Although Scott Lycett now takes on West Coast's No.1 ruck mantle, Vardy has become a critical figure in the club's flag fortunes.
The former Cat was solid in Sunday's 54-point win over the Western Bulldogs, tallying 12 disposals, 16 hit-outs, two contested marks, and a goal.
Naitanui's second ACL injury devastated his teammates.
Now, they're keen to show Naitanui how much he means to them by performing strongly in their pursuit of a flag.
West Coast currently sit in second spot with a 13-4 record.
"The team is in a really good position at the moment and we're looking to do bigger and better things as the year goes on," Vardy said.
"And obviously we want to do it for him and make him proud as well.
"Having done an ACL, I know what he's in for.
"To be able to have that experience as well myself has probably made me feel sorrier for Nic, I guess."
Vardy, who tore his groin during the pre-season, will notch his 50-game milestone in Sunday's clash with North Melbourne at Blundstone Arena.
It's been a milestone more than seven years in the making for the injury-riddled Vardy.
The 200cm ruckman was in just his first AFL season when Geelong won the flag in 2011.
A hip injury just before the finals meant he could only watch on as the Cats won the flag.
"I probably didn't really grasp the whole situation that well," Vardy reflected.
"I was young, and I got injured. And they went on to win a flag.
"Obviously it was tough that day, but at the time I was like, 'Oh, I'll probably win one next year'.
"You don't realise how hard they are.
"Seeing a premiership and missing out on it was a big factor in being able to keep striving to play AFL football and come back from injuries."
