Jarrad Waite Biography

Jarrad Waite will be sidelined indefinitely after re-injuring his calf at training this week, but the veteran forward says his latest injury won't play any part in whether he plays on in 2019.

"If I get frustrated that's not going to help me or help the team. If I get frustrated then I potentially do things too early and that's when stuff can really hit the fan," Waite said.

"I want to get back and play some good footy for the club this year and I'll work out next year next year."

Jarrad Waite has been in great form to start 2018, averaging 15.7 disposals, 1.7 contested marks, 3.3 inside 50s and 2.2 goals in his six games in 2018.

Despite being 35, Waite says he isn't fully contemplating retirement just yet.

"I'm just taking it as it comes and if I feel like I've potentially got a lot to give to the club then I'll want to play on," Waite said.

"I know the window's closing pretty rapidly, so I'm just treating every game on its merits and trying to perform the best I can."

Jarrad Waite, the fourth oldest AFL-listed player in 2018 at the age of 35, has been in great form with 10 goals from five games this season.

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says the club is monitoring Waite closely to make sure he doesn't succumb to injury like he has in previous seasons.

"The facts are, over the last couple of years, around the middle of the year he's been hurt, and it's hurt us as a result," Scott said.

"We're watching him very, very closely."

Scott Thompson, Jarrad Waite, Ben Jacobs and Declan Mountford re-sign with North Melbourne on one-year deals.

Veteran forward Jarrad Waite and injury-plagued midfielder Ben Jacobs are set to play on at North Melbourne in 2018 after being offered new one-year deals.

Scott Thompson, Jarrad Waite and Ben Jacobs are among seven North Melbourne players whose futures are unlikely to be decided until after this year's trade period.

Thompson (restricted free agent), Waite and Jacobs are set to come out of contract at the end of October, along with Sam Gibson, Aaron Mullett and second-year players Declan Mountford and Corey Wagner.

It's understood North has told some of these players it won't be able to inform them whether they will be offered contract extensions until after the trade period finishes on Thursday, October 19.

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says Jarrad Waite's performance in the final rounds of 2017 will have no bearing on his future on the club.

"There's no audition in the last few weeks of the year. We know how good he is. We've just got to look at our entire list management profile and how we go about that and that will determine what happens," Scott said.

"But we're nowhere near making a decision on any of those things yet."

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott has blasted the Match Review Panel's decision to suspend Jarrad Waite, saying the decision to suspend the 32-year-old was clearly based on the fact Adelaide's Tom Lynch was concussed in the incident.

"We're not happy with it, but the system is that if we had challenged it, he would have got two," Scott said.

Scott said two North Melbourne players received free kicks for dangerous tackles in the Hobart game, but both Adelaide players who laid the tackles are able to play this week, whereas Waite was suspended.

"The only difference is that our players braced their fall with their arm free as Tom Lynch had his arm free, and one player got concussed and the other didn't. So it is clearly an outcome-based MRP at the moment," Scott said.

Scott was passionate in defending Waite's actions during his three seasons at North Melbourne describing him as a model citizen.

"He's been outstanding for us on field and off field. I don't have to talk to him at all about discipline because this is not a disciplinary issue," Scott said.

Jarrad Waite accepts a one-match ban for a dangerous tackle on Adelaide's Tom Lynch.

Waite's tackle left Lynch with concussion and unable to play out the remainder of the match.

Jarrad Waite kicks six goals in his return to the side since round one against the Crows at Blundstone Arena.

"He’s an elite runner, an unbelievable athlete and he’s got vice-like hands,” Kangaroos coach Brad Scott said.

“He’s been one of our best pressure players defensively and he’s a terrific guy to have around your footy club.

“Most players come back rusty (but) he just came in like he hadn’t missed a beat.”

Jarrad Waite will miss up to six weeks with a shoulder injury.

Waite injured the AC joint in his left shoulder when he attempted a tackle in the final quarter of North's 43-point loss to West Coast at Etihad Stadium. The 34-year-old immediately reached for his shoulder, but stayed on the ground and finished the match, albeit in some discomfort.

North football manager Cameron Joyce said Waite would undergo surgery this week.

"We anticipate that he will be out for about 4-6 weeks. We're hopeful to have him available for selection sooner rather than later," Joyce said.

Jarrad Waite says he is confident he can bounce back from an injury-plagued 2016 and play every game in 2017.

"(My body) is feeling all right, I've just got to manage it. I had a good chat with Brad (Scott) and the fitness staff to work out the best possible outcome for me to play a full season and that's the plan now," Waite said.

"We've just had a really little chat but we'll probably have a sit-down now because obviously it's not good only playing 10 or 12 games, so I want to play a full season unlike the year before."

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott is hopeful he can see a full season out of Jarrad Waite in 2017.

"When he's fit he's an elite player, not just in terms of hitting the scoreboard, but he's got speed, he's got endurance and great hands, that were on show tonight," Scott said.

"He can defend as well so he's a really complete forward when he's right to go, so we've always had great confidence in him when he's fit, we've just got to make sure we keep him fit."

Jarrad Waite signs a one-year deal with North Melbourne to remain at the club in 2017.

"Jarrad will continue to provide experience and leadership in the forward line," North list manager Cameron Joyce said.

Lachie Henderson and Jarrad Waite have a close encounter with a shark in the surf.

The pair were at Bells Beach when a 2m shark became tangled with another surfer's leg rope and knocked him off his board.

The two players were only about 15m away.

It is understood that Henderson and Waite decided not to return to shore, reasoning that the shark was unlikely to return to the same spot.

North Melbourne anticipates Jarrad Waite will be available for the finals after arthroscopic surgery on his hip on Wednesday revealed no major damage.

"Jarrad's minor procedure on his hip went well," Kangaroos football director Geoff Walsh said.

"We'll monitor him over the next two to three weeks through his rehab to determine his return date, which we anticipate will be in time for finals all going well."

Jarrad Waite will undergo hip surgery this week in a bid to return for the start of North Melbourne's finals campaign.

Waite enjoyed an outstanding start to 2016, kicking 27 goals in the first nine rounds, but has been troubled by hip problems almost ever since.

The spearhead has played just two games since round 12 and after returning from a week off against St Kilda last Saturday night he lasted barely more than two quarters before his hip flared up again.

"Jarrad will be heading in for a very minor hip arthroscope this week so we can see exactly what's going on," North Melbourne football club director Geoff Walsh said in a club statement.

"We've tried a non-invasive approach with his treatment but following on from the issues he had on Saturday night, we've decided this is the best course of action in order to have him ready for the pointy end of the season."

Jarrad Waite says the defensive side of his game has improved significantly in the last few weeks.

"I'm really trying to base my game around defence first. I probably haven't had as many shots on goal as I want to, but I've been tackling and pressure and turning over for goals, which is probably more important," Waite said.

"I feel like especially early in my career it was something I really focused on and probably coming to a new club I was more focused on earning my spot in the team and the offensive stuff and probably didn't focus on it as much."

Jarrad Waite will play his 200th game this Saturday night against his former team Carlton

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says Waite has completely transformed the way he plays in the past three rounds.

"Most importantly for us it's not just his goalkicking output, he's completely turned around the way he plays in the last three weeks," Scott said.

"The last three weeks he ranks No.5 in the competition in pressure (acts) and that's just a different Jarrad Waite to what we've probably seen in the past and his teammates are really acknowledging that.

"He's a really important part of our side now regardless of his output on the scoreboard."

Jarrad Waite is reported in the second quarter of North Melbourne's NAB Challenge clash against Hawthorn at Shepparton's Deakin Reserve after he collected Hawks defender Ben Stratton in the head with an attempted spoil.

"One thing you notice about Jarrad is that he jumps really early for the footy and sometimes if he misjudges that jump he gets himself into a terrible position so he crashes into someone or he makes a clumsy spoil," Kangaroos coach Brad Scott said.

"As long as the intent's good then – like the (Jack) Ziebell one a couple of years ago (when) we were coaching intent – if you make a mistake we'll try and deal with it and get the [decision-making] right."

Jarrad Waite says he feels re-invigorated after moving to the Kangaroos from Carlton.

"It was obviously one of the hardest decisions I've had to make but it's one of those things that I've done it now and I'm very glad that it's happened," Waite said.

"It's re-energised me, I suppose. I loved my time at Carlton but we both came to the end of it."

Kangaroos coach Brad Scott believes Jarrad Waite's best football is yet to come even though the North Melbourne recruit is set to turn 32 before the start of next season.

"Jarrad will add another dimension to our forward line," Scott said.

"We still believe his best football is in front of him, even though he's closer to the end of his career than the start."

North Melbourne signs key forward Jarrad Waite on the opening day of NAB AFL Free Agency Period.

Waite says his decision to leave Carlton was based on a desire to sign a two-year contract and challenge for a premiership.

"The main reason (for leaving) was that I always asked for a two-year contract and then I got indications that I thought Carlton were going to start rebuilding soon," Waite said.

"Obviously, being at my age bracket, it's probably not the best time to be there."

Jarrad Waite walks out on Carlton and is reported to have his sights on joining North Melbourne as a free agent.

Waite informed Carlton on Monday morning that he was leaving the club to exercise his free agency rights, but did not specify which club he would be joining.

"We had always been hopeful that Jarrad would stay at Carlton, particularly given his strong family connection to the club," Carlton football manager Andrew McKay said.

"However, free agency does give players the chance to explore their options, and while we believe we put a very good deal in front of Jarrad and his management, the offer has been declined.

"I would like to thank Jarrad for his service to Carlton over 13 years. He made a valued contribution to the Carlton Football Club."

Carlton coach Mick Malthouse has lashed out at Jarrad Waite's decision to leave the club, calling it "staggering".

"He came around to my place last Friday and wanted to know where he sat, which I explained to him about the game and how we've looked after him body-wise," Malthouse said on 5AA radio.

"We shook hands and everything was hunky-dory and then a week later he was gone. I wish he had told me then.

"I've got no desire to facilitate talking to players in my home when their desire is to leave."

Despite showing inconsistent form in 2014, out of contract Jarrad Waite is still a wanted player at the Blues according to Carlton football operations manager Andrew McKay.

"He hasn't put pen to paper yet but we're in negotiations at the moment," McKay said.

"Jarrad's made it clear to us that he wants to stay at Carlton. We'd like to keep him for another year at least. We're in negotiations with Jarrad, and I'm sure that'll work itself out over the course of the next month or so."

After an inconsistent season, Jarrad Waite takes 11 marks and kicks a season-high four goals against North Melbourne.

"It surely highlighted to him how important he is to us and how much we need him, and also the things we need from him to be a good player," teammate Michael Jamison said about Waite.

"It's now up to him to do that for the rest of the five weeks and stay in the side.

"It's the same with any teammate who's inconsistent and it's only highlighted with Jarrad because his good is so good and so important to us.

"We get frustrated when anyone is up and down. But when someone is so good and so necessary for the side, it's frustrating."

Lachie Henderson says Jarrad Waite still has plenty to offer Carlton despite falling out-of-favour with Blues coach Mick Malthouse.

Speculation has swirled around Waite's future at Visy Park after he was recently dropped to the VFL for the second time this season.

Waite will be out of contract at the end of 2014.

"Waitey's been a great player for a long time and it's a bit hard for him at the moment with us playing how we played last week," Henderson said.

"He played some really good footy last week (three goals in the VFL), so he'll back in at some point. I'd love to see him at the club next year."

Carlton has dropped Jarrad Waite for the second time this season as the Blues seek to arrest a four-game losing streak against Collingwood.

Jarrad Waite commits another undisciplined act while playing for Carlton against Brisbane at the Gabba but Blues coach Mick Malthouse refuses to blame the resultant seven-point loss on Waite.

At the 22-minute mark of the fourth quarter and with the Blues three points up, Zac O'Brien was awarded a free kick outside the fifty, too far out to consider a shot at goal until Waite pushed over Tom Rockliff and gifted the Lions' debutant a first goal in front of the sticks.

"One ill-disciplined act generally doesn't lose you the game," Malthouse said.

"There was that and there was others."

Jarrad Waite says he can see the amusing side of receiving a reprimand for staging.

Waite staged for a free kick shortly after he tackled Tiger Jake King to the ground in the third quarter of the Carlton-Richmond game at the MCG.

As Waite lay on top of King briefly, the Tiger toe-poked him in the chest – an action that earned King a $900 fine for unnecessary contact – prompting Waite to put his hand to his face as though he'd been hit.

Waite told AFL.com.au on Thursday he had suffered a blood nose in his tackle on King, but conceded his reaction to the Tiger's toe-poke had not looked good.

"I wouldn't say (it was) embarrassing, I'd say more funny," Waite said.

"I honestly can't really remember doing it at the time, but I got about 15-20 texts of the video after the game.

"It's not something I'm renowned for and I know it's not something that's going to creep into my game.

"But it was nice just to get a letter (from the Match Review Panel) this time instead of a fine."

After being suspended for head-butting Melbourne defender Tom McDonald in round six last year, Jarrad Waite hopes to avoid any further suspensions in 2014.

"I let my teammates down; it's something I have to control," Waite said.

"It's one of those things I'm not happy about. You just can't do anything these days without repercussions and that's fair enough.

"I know it won't happen again."

After a solid pre-season, Jarrad Waite says his body is feeling great and that he is keen on playing on beyond 2014.

"A lot of the time (in previous years) I haven't trained before Christmas so coming into NAB Cup I haven't been fully fit. But this year I'm really happy with where my body's at and really confident with it, and that's probably the best thing about doing pre-season," Waite said.

"You feel confident with your body and your fitness and knowing your body is going to be able to handle the pressures of it."

Carlton decide to fine Jarrad Waite over his latest suspension.

"It was just a stupid thing to do. 'Waitey''s got to be better than that, and he knows that," Blues skipper Marc Murphy said.

"It's been a work in progress for him. Obviously he's had a few suspensions over the years for doing silly little things that there's just no need to do. As a leader of the club he's got to set the right example for all the other players."

Mick Malthouse takes a thinly veiled swipe at Jarrad Waite for missing Carlton's game against St Kilda through suspension after the Blues lost to the Saints by 9 points.

"When you lose players through suspension it's almost a waste," Malthouse said post-match.

"It's like getting a parking fine. All you do is you pay your money out and you think, 'What am I getting back for it?'

"So, no, I don't particularly like losing players through suspension."

Ed Curnow hopes teammate Jarrad Waites latest suspension will be a wake up call.

"He's a legend, we all love him (and) he's part of the leadership group, but he'd be the first to tell you he's let himself down, he's let the team down, he's let his teammates down," Curnow said.

"It's a shame, and it's (left) a big hole in the side now. We'd just got him back and he was playing great footy.

"Hopefully this is the line in the sand for him and he realises how important he is to the side. Hopefully he'll be ready to make amends for the rest of the year."

Jarrad Waite is kept goalless in his return to football via the VFL.

"It's a tough one coming back and he'd been out for a while," Northern Blues coach Luke Webster said.

"I thought he presented pretty well and we probably didn't kick it to him a couple of times when we should have used him.

"It's a good one for him to tick off and he steps forward for next week. I think he should take some confidence out of that; the first one back is sometimes pretty hard."

Jarrad Waite says he is confident there is no drug use at Carlton.

" I wouldn't mind if I get tested every day of the week because I don't do it. In a sense, if they want to do more tests then that's good because I have got full confidence that, especially at Carlton, we don't have a drug culture," Waite said.

"And I would be very surprised if blokes who are professional athletes (were) putting their careers at risk by doing drugs and doing stupid things like that."

With Jarrad Waite, Matthew Kreuzer, Levi Casboult, Luke Mitchell, Shaun Hampson and Sam Rowe all expected to be ready for the start of the season, Carlton is expected to be spoilt for choice when it comes to big men, something it rarely had the luxury of in 2012.

"We could not get consistently healthy talls last year, so having these guys fit and available is going to be critical for us," forwards coach John Barker said.

"The good thing is all of them who had some small and big issues last year, they are all ready to go."

Carlton has named five players to its leadership group including Nick Duigan who joins Andrew Carrazzo, Kade Simpson, Jarrad Waite and Marc Murphy.

Bryce Gibbs and Michael Jamison, leaders in 2012, have been left out of the group, along with former skipper Chris Judd who has decided to focus solely on football in 2013.

Carlton coach Brett Ratten is tossing up whether to play Jarrad Waite against the Bulldogs or ease him back in the VFL.

"It would be a huge risk to bring him up at senior level knowing his history with injury and then how does he get through? He might get through this week, but then what effect does it have next week?" Ratten asked.

"He's one we would just love to rush straight back, but if he broke down again or had an injury ... we want to make sure he finishes the year really strong."

Brett Ratten says injured key forward Jarrad Waite is unlikely to play in the Blues' critical clashes with Hawthorn and Collingwood.

"We've known what it is but how you actually get the back moving without any pain or stiffness, that's been the real thing that we've been trying to work out and manage," Ratten said.

Carlton has been fined $7,500 by the AFL for tweets by injured players Marc Murphy, Jarrad Waite and Jeremy Laidler that were critical of umpires during the Blues' clash with West Coast.

"The AFL will not tolerate public denigration or humiliation of umpires as we continue to face very real problems with the retention of umpires throughout Australia," general manager football operations Adrian Anderson said.

"A player's use of social media to make comments around umpiring will be subject to the AFL's rules in exactly the same way as comments made in a formal interview or any other media environment, as the AFL competition must continue to set a positive example on conduct towards umpires."

Blues coach Brett Ratten admits the Blues are worried about Jarrad Waite, who will miss a third straight week with injury.

"It hasn't responded the way we'd like and it was one of those things where he's done a fair bit of work, so do we push him earlier in the week to try and get him up, or allow him two weeks of taking a different tack with it?" Ratten said.

"We don't know when he's going to be right at the moment. We just have to wait and see. I suppose it's becoming serious with the length that he's out for ... it's something that has probably frustrated [him]."

Carlton decides to rest Chris Judd, Matthew Kreuzer and Jarrad Waite against the Giants, a move which GWS midfield Tom Scully says is disappointing.

"To have them resting is disappointing in a way but I can certainly understand it from Carlton's point of view. We'll just be focusing on the players that are actually going to be taking to the field," Scully said.

"The guys that are resting can't have an impact on the game and certainly they're still going to have some good players coming in so we're going to have to focus on those guys and recognise that they'll be hungry for opportunities."

Jarrad Waite will play his first game since round 16 last year on Saturday afternoon in the NAB Cup clash with the Brisbane Lions.

"I think [two NAB Cup games] puts me in a pretty good spot to play round one. I obviously don't want to rush myself back too early and make sure I'm not going to affect the team in a negative away," Waite said.

Carlton forward Jarrad Waite has been added to the Blues' eight-man leadershiip group.

"It is a real honour, especially as it is selected by your peers," Waite said.

"We had talked about a forward being in the leadership group and we (the forwards) have all taken on more responsibility in terms of providing more leadership on the ground. While nothing will change in this area it is great that a forward is part of the official leadership group.

"I've worked a lot with [forwards coach] John Barker, putting myself out there and interacting with the leadership group and it has obviously been beneficial."

Forward Jarrad Waite ends speculation on his future after signing a new three-year deal with Carlton.

"We are delighted that Jarrad has re-committed to the Blues. He has been a vital member of our team for a long time now and we see him playing an important part in our future," Carlton CEO Greg Swann said.

"Jarrad is a fantastic clubman. While he has had an injury-interrupted couple of seasons, his attitude around the club has been fantastic and he has already been working hard to ensure he enters the 2012 season fit and raring to go."

Carlton's Jarrad Waite is unlikely to play in the VFL this weekend, handing the Blues a round 24 quandary.

"It's whether we take that risk at senior level or play him at VFL and get him through, and really manage his game time from that point of view," Blues coach Brett Ratten said.

"Or, do we take the big punt and put him straight in?"

Jarrad Waite injures his groin after playing while under a cloud against the Bulldogs in round 16.

"He was a bit tight and he didn't really train all week, so that put him under a bit of a cloud. But we got the tick from the medicos and everyone that he was right," Carlton coach Brett Ratten said.


"They are the risks you take sometimes going into games." 


Carlton coach Brett Ratten says the club might have expected too much of utility Jarrad Waite in his return from a knee reconstruction.

"It was more that maybe our expectations were a fraction high. With his timing and things like that, he just went under a few high balls and was just out a little bit. We thought it would be good for him to go back as well, get the ball in his hands, take a few marks and get that timing back," Ratten said.

Jarrad Waite says taking 10 marks and kicking 2 goals against Richmond in the 2010 AFL season opener gave him confidence in his newly reconstructed knee.

"I was a bit nervous and it does feel like you're playing your first game again, but once you get out there and start running around it does come very natural to you and it becomes just like another game," Waite said.

Jarrad Waite will make his comeback in a NAB Challenge match against the Eagles at Leederville Oval in Perth.

"I'm really looking forward to it ... I'm definitely ready to start playing again. It's been a long time," Waite said.

"Obviously there's times when you're really frustrated, but you just get through it and know that it's going to turn around and that everything you do right is going to help.

"I'm pretty pumped to get back out there and excited about playing footy again."

Carlton's Jarrad Waite hopes to end his time on the sidelines in the third or fourth week of the NAB Cup competition.

"Hopefully I can full train for two or three weeks and then sneak in towards the end of the NAB Challenge and have a few games and then hopefully be alright for round one or two," he said.

Jarrad Waite says he is excited about Carlton's new-look forward line after the departure of Brendan Fevola.

"It is really exciting because for the last 10 years that Brendan's been there, we've had one forward," Waite said.

"All clubs used to know to drop off `Fev', now we have a very potent forward line with Fisher, we'll chuck Kreuzer down there, Wiggins.

"We don't really want someone who's going to kick 80 goals, we want about four or five who are going to kick 30-35 ... and make it hard for oppositions to defend us."

Carlton coach Brett Ratten says he expects Jarrad Waite and Marc Murphy to recover from their knee and hip injuries respectively in time for the season opener against Richmond.

"Jarrad and Marc will not be playing in Sydney in the NAB Cup but at this stage we expect they will be ready for the opening game of the season," Ratten said.

Jarrad Waite's hopes of overcoming a knee injury in time for the 2010 season opener have risen thanks to an intensive two-week training camp overseen by Suki Hobson, a strength and conditioning coach at the Queensland Academy of Sport and one of the most sought-after rehabilitation consultants in the country.

"According to the schedule that we've laid out I should be ready to play my first practice match for the Northern Bullants in March," Waite said.

"So if we can hit that target it should hold me in good stead for round one. I'm progressing as I'm supposed to, but I've never done anything like this before so I'm taking it slowly."

Carlton will be without versatile big man Jarrad Waite for the remainder of the 2009 season after exploratory surgery revealed the star Blue would require a full knee reconstruction.

"It's a big loss for us. He's one of those players who plays all ends of the ground and with his run and versatility. He's someone who has been our X-factor," Blues coach Brett Ratten said.

"We've gone to him a few times to produce a good performance and it's not great for him to be in this situation."

Carlton is still holding out hope Jarrad Waite will play again this year despite a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Jarrad Waite will see a specialist tomorrow to determine whether he needs a full knee reconstruction, which would end his season.

Carlton's Jarrad Waite will have scans to determine the severity of his knee injury he suffered during the match against Adelaide after landing awkwardly while flying for a spoil.

Carlton swingman Jarrad Waite says he wants to forge a reputation as a career defender despite constant speculation about his worth as an elite forward.

Jarrad Waite and his girlfriend are attacked in Lorne by four attackers wielding beer bottles.

The incident is under police investigation and is described as a random unprovoked attack.

Waite and his girlfriend received medical treatment without requiring hospital stay. Facial injuries sustained by Waite will not hinder his preparation for the 2008 AFL season.