Jarrad Waite’s career at Carlton is not at crossroads, it’s on a roundabout, writes Mark Robinson
JARRAD Waite’s career at Carlton is not at the crossroads, it’s on a roundabout. And around and around it goes and has been for six years or so.
Mark Robinson
Don't miss out on the headlines from Mark Robinson. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A CLUB recruiting manager last week said his club would sign Jarrad Waite in a heartbeat.
“He needs love,’’ the recruiting manager said. “And he’s not getting it at Carlton.’’
That was before Waite kicked four goals and took 11 marks against North Melbourne in a best afield performance on Friday night.
The Blues loved him, of course, but, when it comes to this relationship, they fall in and out of love quicker than Geoffrey Edelsten.
BLUES LOCK IN TRIGG, NOW FOR MITCHELL
Waite’s career at Carlton is not at the crossroads, it’s on a roundabout.
And around and around it goes and has been for six years or so.
One week he’s the hero, the next he’s injured, or he’s brain-faded himself into the VFL.
LISTEN TO THE WAITE DEBATE IN THE SUPERFOOTY PODCAST BELOW OR CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE IN ITUNES
He was out of the senior team for three weeks before the Kangaroos game and, because he is out of contract at the end of the season and an unrestricted free agent, the expectation was Waite, 31, would walk.
He probably still will.
The Blues will offer him a marked down deal — perhaps from $500,00 a season to $300,000.
The money is an issue, but so is opportunity.
Lachie Henderson and Levi Casboult, both 24, are the future and Waite has been dropped twice this year.
Other clubs should be clamouring to recruit him.
The Western Bulldogs need a key forward. The argument Waite should go to a contender doesn’t wash. The Bulldogs have a more exciting future than the Blues and Waite should enjoy the challenge of helping the Bulldogs play finals.
Fremantle tried to recruit Lance Franklin and Travis Cloke in recent years, and took Scott Gumbleton at the start of last season. It hasn’t worked.
Waite is a far better player than Gumbleton and could be a more than competent stop-gap as the Dockers try to develop a young key forward.
Essendon would take him for two years, as a replacement for Stewart Crameri, and a dangerous foil beside Jake Carlisle and Joe Daniher.
North Melbourne desperately needs key forward presence. Of all the areas they have stumbled in this season, it is the key forward posts. Drew Petrie has struggled, Aaron Black has disappeared, Robbie Tarrant is injured, Majak Daw can’t hold his place consistently and Ben Brown has played four games.
Brisbane is in a worse situation than North Melbourne and Jay Schulz needs help at Port Adelaide.
Waite’s age is a head-scratcher for recruiters.
It shouldn’t be. If he has games in him similar to last Friday’s, he would be enormous value.
His mindset and behavioural issues are the more important queries.
Perhaps a change at 31 might shake some sense into him, where he can work on establishing himself in a new culture compared to just continuing to add to the culture at Carlton.
Then again, perhaps it’s all over and, even near the end, after being seduced on this bloke’s talent for a decade, we’re still looking for the mysterious key that would unlock the talent and attitude. Time will tell.
Waite has three options: He walks to another club; the Blues sign and trade him to try to get some compensation; or he signs a one-year deal at Carlton and takes his chances beside Henderson and Casboult.
Gut feeling says he’ll stay, but he’ll need a lot more love from Carlton to do so.
WAITER!
Clubs that might look at Jarrad Waite ...
Western Bulldogs: Dogs are on the up.
Fremantle: Scott Gumbleton gamble hasn’t worked.
Essendon: Support for Jake Carlisle, Joe Daniher.
North Melbourne: Drew Petrie can’t go on for ever.
Brisbane: Jono Brown is gone, no obvious successor.
P ort Adelaide: Jay Schulz needs help.
Originally published as Jarrad Waite’s career at Carlton is not at crossroads, it’s on a roundabout, writes Mark Robinson
‘In games we give up’: Flag hero savages Dons as board war looms
‘We are no longer feared, we’re certainly not respected’ – Essendon premiership player Paul Weston has had enough. He tells MARK ROBINSON exclusively about his plan for change.
‘We’ve got champions who are zombies’: Mitchell’s plea for help
Last Monday, at just 58, Barry Mitchell was lying in Epworth Hospital wondering if the game he loves had almost killed him again. This is his confronting story the footy world needs to hear.