Field Marshal: Jarrad Waite in career-best form after stunning start to 2016 season

WHEN Jarrad Waite crossed to North Melbourne as a free agent soon to turn 32, the critics roundly scoffed at the Kangaroos’ perceived act of desperation. But no one is scoffing now.

North Melbourne forward Jarrad Waite is in outstanding form. Picture: Getty Images

AS A Carlton player Jarrad Waite could frustrate for Australia.

So infuriating could he be, the Blues once fined the father-son forward $5000 for getting suspended.

The freakish acts and purple patches of form only served to heighten the frustration on Royal Parade.

Plagued by injuries, Waite only played 22 games in a season once (2007) and hadn’t played more than 16 since 2008.

So when he crossed to North Melbourne in late 2014 as a free agent soon to turn 32, the critics roundly scoffed at the Kangaroos’ perceived act of desperation.

No one is scoffing now.

North Melbourne sits atop the ladder for the first time since 1998 and Waite is sitting on top of his game — better than he’s ever been at 33.

It’s been a remarkable rise.

Waite played 23 of a possible 24 games last year, kicking a career-high 42.24, but it’s his start to 2016 that has truly turned heads.

He is the No.1 player in the competition for ranking points (137 per game) and No.2 among key forwards for marks inside 50m (3.5) and goals (4.0).

However, it’s the feverish work without the ball that is makes him a different player.

Waite has laid 11 tackles inside 50m — more than any other player in the competition and more than livewire small forwards and pressure fanatics Eddie Betts (10) and Luke Dahlhaus (9).

“You could make an argument there aren’t any better key forward pressure players in the competition than ‘Waitey’, and I wouldn’t think that would have been his legacy from early in his career so he’s done a terrific job to make that the cornerstone of his game,” Roos coach Brad Scott said.

“He’s got himself really fit. The sport science and medical team have done a great job giving him a program that he’s bought into and he’s really driven. And we’ve been pretty consistent with what we’ve expected of Waitey.

“He’s getting some reward offensively at the moment for all his hard work but that’s not what his game build on, his game’s built on defensive pressure.”

North football manager Geoff Walsh said: “It’s self-fulfilling. You do something well and you enjoy it so you keep doing it.

“He’s getting results on the scoreboard, but he’s also become a player his teammates love to play with because they know his opponent is never going to get an easy one on him.”

After chasing their own tail the last two seasons, North Melbourne is the last remaining undefeated side in 2016.

The Roos’ offence is breathtaking. They score the most (123 per game), take the ball from defensive 50m to score the most (14.6 per cent), goal per inside 50m the most (35.4 per cent) and score from turnovers the second-most (27.6 per cent).

If there’s a question mark, it’s the defence.

North concedes the most from opposition clearances (44.5 points) and ranks 16th for scores allowed per inside 50s (53.9%). But as we know, scoring is up and every side is more attack-minded than this time last year.

Based on last year, the Roos have the most difficult draw from Round 10 onwards so biggest tests will come then and come finals time, where they’ve lost the last two preliminary finals.

But for now, you’d have to say it’s been worth the Waite.

KICKING GOALS

Jarrad Waite’s stunning start to the season

Tackles inside 50m

11: Jarrad Waite (NM)

10: Eddie Betts (Adel)

9: Luke Dahlhaus (WB)

9: Josh Kennedy (WC)

Waite in 2016

Supercoach points: 137 (1st)

Disposals: 18.5 (1st)

Marks inside 50m: 3.5 (2nd)

Ground ball-gets inside 50m: 2.3 (2nd)

Goals: 4 (2nd)

Score involvements: 10.5 (3rd)

Forward half pressure points: 26.6 (1st)

*Rankings among key forwards (Supercoach points No.1 in competition)

Source: Champion Data