Jarrad Waite

Career: 2002-
Debut: Round 1, 2003 vs Sydney
Carlton Player No. 1 062
Games: 125*
Goals: 137*
Guernsey No. 30
Height: 194cm
Weight: 97kg
DOB: 4 February, 1983
AFL Rising Star Nominee: Round 10, 2003


There is nothing more satisfying to a footy fan than to see the son of a former player come through the ranks and make a name for himself. As Stephen Silvagni and Lance Whitnall had done, Jarrad Waite is now also making a name for himself in his own right.

Jarrad came to Carlton via a Father / Son selection in the 2001 National Draft (#46) as the son of premiership player Vin Waite. He was recruited from the Murray Bushrangers U/18's, after playing his junior football at Benalla. The entire 2002 season was spent in the reserves: ostensibly to develop the young player but also to build up fitness and maturity.

Jarrad made his debut for Carlton in Round 1, 2003, mainly playing as a rangy wingman and providing some real hope of better things to come in the year after the Blues won their first wooden spoon. A National Rising star nomination came his way. He would play all but 2 games in 2003.

The sudden death of his father Vin shortly before the round 14 clash with Melbourne would not deter him from playing, in fact it spurred him on and he produced his best game yet. This courageous decision was recognised by all Carlton supporters and earned him a great deal of respect that will never be forgotten.

He was struck down by stress fractures at the start of 2004, which would force him to miss the first half of the season and it would then still take him quite a while to regain form.

2005 saw a move to the Half Forward line, a role where many see him flourishing with his ability to take strong marks through his athleticism and long arms. He would rise to the challenge of full forward Brendan Fevola's absence through suspension in the round 6 clash against Hawthorn by kicking a career best 5 goals and earn 3 Brownlow votes. He would play all but one game in 2005 and reach the 50 game milestone in the final game of that year. He finished fifth in the Best & Fairest. Further, he was selected in the Aussie squad for the International Rules series against Ireland at the end of 2005.

Given the performances in 2005, much was expected of Waite in 2006. But when injury struck not once, but twice through the year (pre-season and then a jarred knee midway through the season) Waite was always going to be up against it. He managed 13 games overall, kicking 18 goals at an average of 1.4 goals a game. Average possessions were about 13 a game, but his impact in our forward line from 2005 was sorely missed as our goalscoring capacity - outside of Fevola - fell away.

In 2007, Jarrad appeared to re-invent himself as a Centre Half Back. During the NAB Cup, he beat opponents such as Scott Lucas and Lance Franklin and in the season proper he got the job done against players such as St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt. But before too long, Waitey would find himself back up forward where his telescopic arms were able to pull in the big marks. 4 goals in Round 9, which could have been 5 or 6 but for some misses, and another 3 in our win over the Bulldogs saw Waite - and fellow forward Brad Fisher - prove extremely dangerous.

Waite's fine performances up forward continued, but bigger news was to come. In the absence of skipper Lance Whitnall for our away game to the Dockers, Waite was announced as the first Skipper for the Blues in what was intended to be a 4 week rotational arrangement, before Kade Simpson took it over. Waite was beaten early in the game but responded well in the second half with 5 goals overall. Jarrad took a major step forward in his development as an AFL player during 2007, he was mainly used as a Centre Half Back where he claimed scalps such as Nick Riewoldt and Scott Lucas while providing invaluable rebound and run out of defence. He also picked up Goal of the Week in Round 18 for his clever dribble goal from the boundary line against Collingwood. His amazing season was rewarded at season's end with a 3rd placing in the club's best and fairest.

Jarrad settled into Centre Half Back for season 2008 and in Round 2 against St Kilda managed to comprehensively beat Nick Riewoldt again. In the Round 4 victory against Collingwood he kept Anthony Rocca to one goal and one mark while picking up 26 disposals, 13 marks and 7 rebound 50s himself.

Waite was rewarded for his brilliant start to the year when he was named on the Half-Back line for Victoria in the Hall of Fame tribute match against the Dreamteam.

Waite continued his good form throughout the rest of the season. In the Round 8 loss to Brisbane; he had 23 disposals at 83% efficiency, 10 contested possessions and 6 rebound 50s. He had 25 disposals, 10 contested possessions, 5 tackles and 6 rebound 50s in the Round 9 victory over Fremantle. Waite played his 100th match in the Round 16 match against Sydney, the same team he made his debut against. Despite playing a great game himself where he gathered 22 disposals and kicked a goal; his Blues fell 2 points short of the 4th-placed Swans. In the following week's 28-point victory against the 2nd-placed Western Bulldogs, Waite had 24 disposals, 10 contested possessions, 5 tackles and 2 assists. In the Round 19 66-point victory ovre reigning Grand Finallists Port Adelaide, Waite was like a wall at Centre Half Back. He gathered a career-high 29 disposals at 90% efficiency, took 11 marks and laid 5 tackles.

2008 saw Waite make a permanent switch to Centre Half Back where he was able to chop off plenty off opposition attacks and provide great rebound. His season was acknowledged when he came 7th in the club best and fairest and on the same night was given a 3-year contract extension. But then tragedy would strike - after a great start amongst the promise of 2009, Waite hurt his ACL in the Round 9 Crows clash and would not be able to return until 2010.

Milestones

50th game: Round 22, 2005 vs North Melbourne
100th game: Round 16, 2008 vs Sydney

Career Highlights

2003 AFL Rising Star Nominee
2003 Best First Year Player
2005 5th Best & Fairest
2005 International Rules Series
2007 Leadership Group
2007 Pre-Season Premiership Player
2007 3rd Best and Fairest
2008 Victorian State Player: 2008 Hall of Fame Game
2008 7th Best and Fairest

Links

Articles: Waiting to play Finals Footy

Blueseum: Summary of playing statistics for Jarrad Waite | Career Breakdown | Waite's Blueseum Image Gallery

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