You couldn’t help but laugh as Jarrad Waite took a fantastic mark on the goal-line before deciding to play on and spraying his snap at goal so badly that the end result was a Collingwood free kick for out on the full around 15 metres from goal.
Never has a moment on the field proven to be such a perfect microcosm of a player’s career. In a matter of ten seconds on Sunday afternoon, we saw Waite’s career flash before our eyes: the tantalising athleticism to get rid of his opponent and take a great mark in a dangerous position followed by a brain fade, completely undoing all his good work.
It was a fitting moment in a career full of similar mishaps – just think, how many times have we seen Waite start a game in good form before fading out of the game, so much so that by the end, all we remember is the fact he was reported?
That wasn’t the case on Sunday, but it’s safe to assume that Waite’s blunder will overshadow his blistering first quarter in which he looked like he could beat the Pies on his own and his ingenius fly kick goal that brought the Roos to within two points early in the last quarter.
Now aged 32 after being drafted with the 46th pick in the storied 2001 draft, Waite is what he is. That is, the imperfections that have dogged his game for over a decade are going nowhere.
Arriving at Carlton as the son of the legendary Vin, Jarrad Waite was always going to have a tough time living up to expectations.
He struggled to fit in during the early parts of his career, playing as a key defender and even as a wingman (long before the tall midfielder was in vogue) before eventually finding his niche as a key forward in Carlton’s post Brendan Fevola forward line.
The skill and athleticism were undeniable, but injuries and suspensions were all too common for Waite, preventing him from reaching his potential.
Waite is quite possibly the first ever footballer to be seen as someone who could improve as he moved into his thirties. As recently as a couple of years ago, Blues supporters and commentators alike were convinced that Waite would eventually have his breakout season and hush the doubters. Let that sink in – people were seriously thinking that a 30-year-old would have a breakout season.
This was in 2013, when Waite, having missed the first five games of the season due to injury, made his return and promptly headbutted an opponent with an umpire only a few metres away, leading to a one-week suspension.
So irate were Carlton players and officials, Waite was fined $5000 by the club. Such is life with Jarrad Waite.
Capable of kicking seven goals in a game one week while managing only ten disposals and five marks as a full forward in a shootout the next (Rounds 2 and 3 this season) Waite is the biggest enigma the AFL has seen this century.
Perhaps most frustrating for coaches and fans is that he’s talented enough to get a game every week and persist with, but unreliable enough that there is absolutely no expectation as to how he will help your team win a game of footy, despite the fact he’s been in the league for 13 and a half years.
Think of your favourite player aged over 30. You know what you’re going to get from him each week because he’s been doing it for over a decade.
Think of Jarrad Waite. You have no idea what you’re going to get from contest to contest, and that’s what makes him so great, frustrating and everything in between.
There is no way of knowing how Waite is going to perform this week against the Eagles, let alone how the rest of his career will play out.
One thing’s for certain though – there will be plenty more Jarrad Waite moments to come and maybe, just maybe, he’ll live up to his potential.
Winston
Guest
That's probably true. You don't need silver service delivery if your forward line is good enough, eg Swans 2005. And can't blame Thomas, he's one of their best, and he's even fixed up his set shot kicking. Just need another 2 of him in there that's all.
hamleyn
Roar Guru
I'm a Collingwood man and I was pretty stoked we got Greenwood so I understand why you'd want to keep him. Bit disappointing that the Roos didn't instill enough confidence in him to stick around the club. Higgins may have been brought in to do that and he is a classy player...when he actually plays. Just not consistent enough. Aaron Black's a bit of a weird one because he had such a good rookie season but looks like he's lacked a bit of leadership to see him develop enough over the past two years. It'd be a real waste if he was to be delisted and snapped up by another club and do well because the Roos didn't put enough effort into him. However, not sure if this is the case, just a perception. Daw has always promised a lot and I think is worth one last try but its a long shot. As for delivery into the forward line, a lot of clubs struggle with that. I think it worked for the Roos last year because Petrie and Brown are very good contested marks. But when they aren't playing well and Lindsay Thomas is being negated by a good defender, they don't have many other avenues to goal. I think the onus needs to be a bit more on the midfield to kick goals - think Swallow, Dal Santo, Gibson, Bastinac.
Perry Bridge
Guest
I'd've preferred to keep Greenwood. However - Higgins is seen as adding a touch of missing 'class'. And Waite aerially is still a better option than at least Aaron Black. We may though see Majak Daw back in action this week and see where he is at - and he, if in position, is generally pretty good at at least bringing the ball to ground. (the 'in position' is the questionable aspect but often I've thought the lack of fluency and poor delivery coming into attack could excuse many a forward).
hamleyn
Roar Guru
Couldn't agree more. I was a bit incredulous that the Roos picked up him and Shaun Higgins (a player very similar to Waite) as the pieces to complete the puzzle to contend for a premiership. Waite isn't going to add enough to their forward line that Drew Petrie and Ben Brown don't do already, likely going to get injured or suspended and, as you rightly said, you have no idea what he's going to do each week. Take big forwards like Riewoldt, Cloke, Roughead, Cameron, etc. The club knows they are going to get a contest from all of these guys and that's all they want. If they take the mark, great, they kick the goal (or miss horribly in the case of Cloke). If they don't, at least they provide a contest for the small forwards to mop up. Waite seems either unable or incapable to consistently come out and make a contest week-on-week. When he does, he's as good as any big forward in the game but its few and far between. As for Higgins, well he's been too injured during his career to know exactly where he stands but is often in a similar situation to Waite. Can come out and play a blinder for a quarter, then disappears for the rest of the game.