Jake Waterman

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Jake Waterman
Waterman in May 2026
Personal information
Born (1998-05-06) 6 May 1998
Perth, Western Australia
Original team Marist Football Club
Draft No. 77 (F/S), 2016 national draft
Debut Round 1, 2018, West Coast vs. Sydney, at Optus Stadium
Height 191 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight 92 kg (203 lb)
Position Key forward
Club information
Current club West Coast
Number 2
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2017– West Coast 126 (180)
Representative team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
2026 Western Australia 1 (2)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 15, 2026.
2 Representative statistics correct as of 2026.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Jake Waterman (born 6 May 1998) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). Jake is the son of dual West Coast premiership defender Chris Waterman, and brother of former Essendon forward Alec Waterman.

AFL career

He was drafted by West Coast with their final selection and seventy-seventh overall in the 2016 national draft as a father-son selection.[1] He made his debut in the twenty-nine point loss to Sydney at Optus Stadium in Round 1 of the 2018 season.[2] In Round 6, Waterman was nominated for the AFL Rising Star award after recording fourteen disposals, five marks and two goals in the eight-point win over Fremantle at Optus Stadium.[3]

2023

Waterman played 11 of the first 12 games of the 2023 AFL season, but was a late withdrawal in Round 13 against Adelaide in Adelaide due to illness. Upon returning to Perth he was diagnosed with severe ulcerative colitis, an autoimmune, inflammatory bowel disease. He was hospitalised for 10 days, losing 12 kg.[4] In September, Waterman signed a two-year contract extension.[5]

2024

In Round 5 of the 2024 AFL season, Waterman kicked a career-high six goals against Richmond at Optus Stadium.[6] He was again impressive the next week in Western Derby 58, kicking five goals.[7] He also kicked five goals in Round 10 during West Coast's 35-point win over Melbourne.[8] Waterman finished the season as West Coast's leading goalkicker, having kicked 53 goals from 20 games, which placed him fifth in the Coleman Medal.[9] For his performance throughout the year, he earnt a spot in the 2024 All-Australian team as a forward,[10] and finished third in the West Coast Eagles' best and fairest award, the John Worsfold Medal.[11] Already contracted until 2025, Waterman signed a four-year contract extension in October to remain at West Coast until at least 2029.[12]

2025

In March, Waterman was voted into West Coast's leadership group.[13] He only managed 8 games for the 2025 AFL season due to injury and didn't play again after Round 11.[14] Despite this he still led the club for goals kicked up until Round 19,[15] before eventually being overtaken by Jamie Cripps and Liam Ryan.[16]

2026

In 2026, Waterman was picked to play for Western Australia in the revised State of Origin match against Victoria. His father Chris Waterman had previously represented Western Australia four times at state level in the 1990s, including as captain in 1998.[17][18]

Statistics

Updated to the end of round 15, 2026.[19]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2018West Coast45 1613121186017875230.80.87.43.811.14.71.40
2019West Coast2 131551124515775161.20.48.63.512.15.81.20
2020[a]West Coast2 109278251035180.90.27.82.510.35.10.80
2021West Coast2 141381294417389270.90.69.23.112.46.41.90
2022West Coast2 2018111434218597320.90.67.22.19.34.91.60
2023West Coast2 111191124615871231.00.810.24.214.46.52.12
2024West Coast2 20532319161252137222.71.29.63.112.66.91.17
2025West Coast2 81795724814952.11.17.13.010.16.10.60
2026West Coast2 1431371443618096182.22.610.32.612.96.91.3
Career 126180116108438314677401741.40.98.63.011.65.91.49

Notes

  1. The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

  1. Malcolm, Alex (11 October 2016). "Eagles nominate father-son selection for upcoming draft". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  2. Robinson, Chris (23 March 2018). "West Coast Eagles to blood three debutants for first time since 1996". The West Australian. Seven West Media. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  3. McArdle, Jordan (1 May 2018). "West Coast forward Jake Waterman gets round six AFL Rising Star nomination". The West Australian. Seven West Media. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  4. Wildie, Tom (23 December 2023). "Jake Waterman opens up on struggle with ulcerative colitis, and how he returned to full fitness". ABC News. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
  5. "West Coast table four-year offer to Jake Waterman as Melbourne continue to show interest in star Eagle". The West Australian. 21 August 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
  6. Sweeney, Paddy. "Why West Coast's win was Waterman's watershed moment". theage.com. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  7. Jovanovski, Jack (6 May 2024). "'That's just flippant': Great's frank Freo fears amid worrying trends after 'miserable' result". Fox Sports. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  8. Schmook, Nathan (19 May 2024). "Harley the hero as Eagles stun shellshocked Demons". Australian Football League.
  9. ESPN Australia (25 August 2024). "Coleman Medal leaderboard for season 2024". ESPN Australia.
  10. "2024 All-Australian Team". afl.com.au. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
  11. Schmook, Nathan (19 September 2024). "Gun Eagle caps off All-Australian year with maiden B&F". afl.com.au. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
  12. AAP (9 October 2024). "Jake Waterman re-signs with West Coast until 2029". ESPN. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
  13. staff writers (5 March 2025). "Who's in, who's out? Your club's captains, leadership group for 2025". afl.com.au. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
  14. Schmook, Nathan (27 May 2025). "Season over for spearhead as Eagles eye mid-season recruits". afl.com.au. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  15. "West Coast - 2025 Game by Game Player Stats". AFL Tables. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  16. "2025 Player Stats". AFL Tables. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  17. Cellini, Aidan (12 February 2026). "West Coast forward's "grand" return to football, achieves rare Origin feat". zerohanger. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  18. Gibson, Mark (13 February 2026). "Jake Waterman says he will be 'zinging' around at Saturday's Origin match". ABC Radio Perth. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  19. "Jake Waterman". AFL Tables. Retrieved 22 June 2026.