Jake Waterman

The Waterman name has long been part of West Coast’s furniture — Chris wore the blue and gold with distinction — but Jake has carved out a legacy entirely his own. His rise from fringe player to the focal point of the Eagles’ forward line is one of the great self-improvement stories in the modern AFL. Waterman’s marking ability gives him the aerial presence that key forwards need, but it is his relentless work rate that separates him from the pack. He leads up, he crumbs, he brings teammates into the game, and he hits the scoreboard with a consistency that makes him indispensable. In a period of renewal at West Coast, Waterman has been the constant.

Career Statistics

Player Profile

Through 110 games and 130 goals, Waterman has become the player around whom West Coast’s forward structure revolves. His goal sense sharpens every season, his ability to manufacture scoring opportunities from nothing a testament to football intelligence that was always there, waiting for the body and confidence to catch up. In 2026, Waterman carries the Eagles’ scoring burden on willing shoulders, a forward whose evolution is far from complete.

EC — Senior features writer, australiafootball.com