TEAM GWS high performance manager Alan McConnell says Israel Folau has all the physical attributes to make the same impact at senior level as West Coast sensation Nic Naitanui.

The Eagles ruckman has taken the competition by storm in his first two seasons with a potent mixture of athleticism and aggression.

McConnell, who coached Naitanui during his time at the AIS-AFL Academy, said Folau could do the same.

"Comparisons are fraught with danger but the obvious comparison is Nic Naitanui," he said on Tuesday. "Nic, at 16 years of age, could take a fabulous mark - that's it. He wasn't a great kick, he didn't read the game particularly well.

"He was aggressive and he did lay a good tackle occasionally and you might see that three or four times in a game - and we know where he's at now.

"Now, Israel's a couple of years older but he's quick, he's aggressive and he's a fabulous catch. My understanding is that he's a quick learner so I think they're all qualities that make him an exciting prospect to work with and I can't wait."

Team GWS coach Kevin Sheedy agreed with McConnell's assessment of Folau's potential, describing his newest recruit as a "weapon".

"Anybody who can spring, jump, learn techniques, grow and then be a run-on player around the ground can be a dynamic weapon, but we need to work through that," he said.

"We'll grow along the journey together on that one."

At best, Folau is likely to have less than 18 months to prepare for his AFL debut in March 2012 and McConnell said every moment would count from a development perspective.

"You can work a full pre-season with players who have played the game all their lives and you still want more time with them. How long's a piece of string?" he said.

"The reality is, the more time [we have] the better, and the sooner the better, but we work within the parameters we've got."

Folau comes to Australian football as a complete novice but McConnell said his size - 195cm and 102kg - would help him make the transition as a key position player.

"If we play him as a full-forward, for example … there's not as big a decision-making step if you're at one end of the ground or the other, compared to if you're in the middle of the ground," he said.

"Unlike Karmichael Hunt, he probably has the capacity to play one of those roles whereas Karmichael is more likely to be taken into the middle of the ground. Whether that's where the Gold Coast want to play him or not, that's what's likely to happen."

As well as Folau's proven physical ability, McConnell said he had been impressed by the 21-year-old's mental resolve in the short time they had known one another.

"During the press conference today, the more he got needled, there was a greater resolve in his answers," he said.

"I found it really interesting and if you look at his career, he plays best on the big stage. "He talked about the fact that at times, he gets a bit nervous and anxious - and I think today might have been one of those - but he also was quite clear that was when he played his best.

"Make no mistake, there's going to be some pressure that's going to come but history says he has some mechanisms to manage that already."