Saving Naughton?

DAVID King believes the Western Bulldogs must save Aaron Naughton from himself.

The Bulldogs forward landed awkwardly and suffered a concussion after flying for a mark late in the second quarter of his side’s 29-point win over North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.

As a result of the head knock, Naughton will serve the AFL’s 12-day concussion protocol and will miss next weekend’s meeting with the in-form Sydney Swans.

Regarding Naughton’s reckless flying nature, King feels it is time for the Dogs to step in and educate him to be more careful in the air.

King asked on SEN Breakfast, “Does Luke Beveridge have to temper Aaron Naughton?

“Does he have to save him from himself? Does he have to say to him, ‘Listen mate, we love the way you attack the footy, we love the way you contested mark, we love the way you run back with the flight, all those things we love’,” King said.

“But we don’t love it at the expense of your own health and safety.

“This guy is a bit reckless with his own body. He lands on his head a lot. He lands hard a lot.

“Ben Dixon made the point that maybe he needs to learn how to land. He needs to be re-educated.

“Don’t forget this guy played a lot of footy at centre half-back. So he’s all rip, tear and bust as a forward. It is unreal to watch, as a spectacle it’s fantastic, it’s everything we love about the game.

“But this guy is the reason you’re going to win the flag.

“Don’t you have a responsibility to work with him to say, ‘Look, some of these marks you’re flying for, is there a need to go for 10 a week?’

“My point is not on one specific mark. This guy does it regularly.”

King referenced the great Wayne Carey and how he was able to avoid big head knocks despite his reckless abandon in contested marking situations.

Naughton is such an integral part of the Doggies’ attacking set up that King does not want to see him missing games of footy as a result of his intent to launch himself at the ball.

“I think it’s a conversation you need to have. Everyone says he plays like Wayne Carey. Wayne knew how to land, he knew how to protect his body from the jarring, the crushing blows,” King said.

“I don’t just mean concussion. You regularly see him [Naughton] doubled over on the ground after a huge contest. It’s admirable, I’m loving the way he is playing.

“But do you have to re-educate this guy on landing to protect him from himself or to just temper his unbelievable desire to fly for everything?”

Despite Naughton’s wars, the Doggies got the job done over the Kangaroos, regaining their spot at the top of the ladder in the process.

– BY ANDREW SLEVISON/ SEN