Nakia Cockatoo endears himself to new teammates by helping Blake Coleman complete time trial

Nakia Cockatoo was quick to endear himself to his new teammates with one inspiring act in Brisbane’s time trial, which was duly noted in the players’ social media groups.

Nakia Cockatoo training with his new club. Picture: Dan Peled

One inspiring act of teamwork quickly helped Brisbane recruit Nakia Cockatoo endear himself to his new teammates.

As the former Geelong midfielder sucked in the big ones from its recent 3km time trial, he was quick to notice draftee Blake Coleman needed a hand.

Cockatoo dashed back to complete the final lap with Coleman, helping the fellow indigenous talent across the line in an example of the respect the injury-plagued player has quickly gained at the Lions.

Brisbane football manager Danny Daly said Cockatoo was “pretty buggered” but he wanted to finish with Coleman, “who was lagging behind a long way last”.

Daly said the jovial Cockatoo had “made a big impression” at his second AFL club.

Nakia Cockatoo played just 34 games with Geelong. Picture: Michael Klein

“That was duly noted by our playing group because they all got on social media and sent out a text message on our Lions footy web page about what a great moment it was for him,” Daly said.

“That’s what he’s been able to create I suppose and what he can do as a carer.”

Cockatoo was traded to Brisbane last year after six frustrating seasons with Geelong, where he managed no more than 11 games in a season (in 2015 and 2017) because of injury.

He has not played an AFL match since Round 3, 2018 because of a series of knee and soft tissue setbacks.

If Cockatoo gets his body right, he looms as one of the competition’s most exciting players.

Daly said Queensland’s climate would play a “massive role” in Cockatoo’s ability to enjoy a clean run.

He played in consecutive matches in Geelong’s scratch matches in Queensland last year during the hub stint but was unable to add to his 34 games.

“Obviously with the heat up here, you wake up at 6 in the morning and the sun shining so you can go out and go for walks and head down to the water if you need to,” Daly said.

“It just helps mentally more than anything.

“I think the fact it’s always pretty warm and humid, you just feel good about yourself and when you’ve had a wretched run of injuries … it just helps you enormously in terms of your ability to get through your rehab and freshen up.

“There’s no doubt the climate’s been a fantastic addition for him.”

Cockatoo has been training as a wing and half-back but Daly said “he could play anywhere”.

He said he had been surprised by his ferocity in intraclub games.

“I didn’t realise he was that hard,” he said.

“Some of the stuff we’ve done, he does burrow in and puts his body on the line. His ability to win the ball and get it out, it’s very good.

“He’s a tough boy.”

Originally published as Nakia Cockatoo endears himself to new teammates by helping Blake Coleman complete time trial