Heartbreak delivers a moment of joy for Eagle Nic Naitanui Nic Naitanui going for a light walk with team mates, City Beach, May 18, 2013. TO the Eagles fans on Friday night it was the goal to win a game. To Nic Naitanui it was a kick to remember a fragile baby boy laid to rest that afternoon. Francesco Carmelo Canfora. Nine weeks old and every day a battle. As Nic Nat fumbled to focus on the match against North Melbourne, little Francesco, the cousin of his partner Elle Demasi, was buried at Perth's Karrakatta Cemetery after losing his fight for life following heart complications suffered during his premature birth. An emotional Naitanui yesterday told how he channelled his grief into those last spine-tingling moments of Friday night's epic event. The leap, the pack mark, the goal and the scream of raw emotion as he leapt into the clutches of frenzied fans and triumphant team-mates. "My girlfriend's little cousin passed away and being a young little baby, it's pretty sad," said Naitanui, who wore a black armband which he held aloft after kicking the game-winning goal. Emotions take over. I guess I was pretty high on emotion and dedicated that game and that finish to them and the family. They've been struggling a little bit. The baby's parents, Maria and Salvatore Canfora, said they had "no words" to describe how Naitanui's gesture had touched them. It was indescribable. It was a beautiful thing. I wasn't expecting it. For him to think of our family at that moment in the game, at the point when he was the hero, it meant a lot," Mr Canfora said. He's become a very important part of the family. Mrs Canfora described Naitanui as "one in a million." I had tears in my eyes. It meant so much. He came and saw us at Princess Margaret Hospital during the week and then to dedicate the win to Francesco. I can't thank him enough," she said. Francesco's grandmother, Stella Canfora, said: "Nic's a beautiful boy. We're so proud to have him in our lives. In a tweet, Ms Demasi said she hoped her "precious and beautiful" cousin would rest in peace. While he revelled in the spotlight on Friday night, Naitanui couldn't have been more humble at a recovery session at City Beach yesterday, turning up in bare feet and boardshorts and tossing seaweed at his teammates as he shrugged off his heroics. "I wasn't frightened, but was pretty nervous," he said of the game-winning kick. I haven't seen the tape. I'm sure I'll go home and the family will be watching it over and over. For me, once is enough and I'm just moving on to next week. He said wild scenes after the siren meant there was "probably 30 litres of Powerade in the middle of the changerooms ... and I feel sorry for who- ever has to clean that up." Despite the drizzle, breakfast diners at City Beach snapped photos, runners stopped to wave and surfers pointed to Naitanui as he hit the water. After a paddle, surf club member Sharlene Hart, 43, admitted she'd taught her two-year-old how to pronounce the footballer's name that morning. Not as pleased was North Melbourne supporter Colm Stanley, 48, who pulled up on his bicycle and said to the Fijian: I've got to respect that mark, I just wish it was three seconds later. Eagles media boss Gary Stocks said few players had generated more hype. He can't go to many places in Perth and hide. If people know one player in AFL they know Naitanui. He's also got the personality to deal with it," Stocks said. And the trademark dreadlocks? "Last night they didn't get in the way so I'll think I'll keep them a bit longer," Naitanui said.