Jake Waterman

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 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. He made his debut in the twenty-nine point loss to at Optus Stadium in Round 1 of the 2018 season. 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 at Optus Stadium.

2023 Waterman played 11 of the first 12 games of the 2023 AFL season, but was a late withdrawal in Round 13 against 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. In September, Waterman signed a two-year contract extension.

2024

In Round 5 of the 2024 AFL season, Waterman kicked a career-high six goals against at Optus Stadium. He was again impressive the next week in Western Derby 58, kicking five goals. He also kicked five goals in Round 10 during West Coast's 35-point win over . 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. For his performance throughout the year, he earnt a spot in the 2024 All-Australian team as a forward, and finished third in the West Coast Eagles' best and fairest award, the John Worsfold Medal. Already contracted until 2025, Waterman signed a four-year contract extension in October to remain at West Coast until at least 2029.

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

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.

Statistics Updated to the end of round 22, 2026.

133 !! 195 !! 131 !! 1145 !! 400 !! 1545 !! 775 !! 183 !! 1.5 !! 1.0 !! 8.6 !! 3.0 !! 11.6 !! 5.8 !! 1.4 !! 9