Jarrad Waite

D.O.B:
4 February 1983
Club:
Carlton
Honours:
2001 NAB AFL Draft Pick No. 46
2003 NAB AFL Rising Star Nominee
2005 International Rules Series
2007 Calrton Pre-Season Premiership
2008 Victorian Representative

Jarrad’s association with the Blues began long before he was recruited by the club in 2001; he is the son of one of Carlton’s dual premiership players Vin Waite. Recruited by the blues under the father-son rule, he began his development into a promising young key position player at Benalla before moving to the Murray Bushrangers at U18 level. Jarrad is a talented young player with unlimited potential who the Blues will be building their hopes around for sustained future success.

Jarrad spent his first year at the Blues playing in the VFL, a year the Blues used to develop the youngster into a strong key position player who could be utilised forward or back. Stronger and heavier in 2003, Jarrad debuted for the Blues by playing 20 games for the year, with an outstanding performance in round 10 against Fremantle where he had 21 disposals and kicked 2 goals, earning him a Rising Star nomination.

2005 saw the emergence of a great player when Jarrad played all 22 games for the year and booted 36 goals including a 5 goal haul in round six against the Hawks, making his stance in the AFL as a prominent forward. His efforts were rewarded by coming fifth in the Blues' Best and Fairest and was selected for the International Rules Series.

In 2006 Waite again showed signs of why he is such a valuable commodity for the Carlton Football Club although being sidelined for much of the season due to injury, he still managed 18 goals in just 13 games. In 2007, Jarrad played in a number of key position roles both forward and back, shutting down some of the leagues best forwards, whilst also kicking a few goals himself. Waite capped of the 2007 season by finishing second at Carlton in marks (138).

Waite’s 2009 season came crashing down after exploratory surgery revealed the Blues' star would require a full knee reconstruction, after he hyper-extended his knee in the first quarter of Carlton’s loss to Adelaide at AAMI Stadium during their round 9 clash. Having worked with one of the nation's leading knee rehabilitation experts, the Blues left no stone unturned to get the important defender back on the playing field for the 2010 season.

One of Carlton’s most talented players, Jarrad’s running ability and dash for the ball are features of his game which suggest that he will be a star for the Blues for many years to come.