Whittlesea snares Jarrad Waite as playing assistant coach for 2022

Hailed as the biggest recruit in Whittlesea’s history, former Carlton and North Melbourne star Jarrad Waite has signed on for NFL Division 1, 2022.

Jarrad Waite in action for St Kevin's. Picture: Hamish Blair

It’s been hailed as the biggest recruiting coup in Whittlesea history.

Former Carlton and North Melbourne goalkicker Jarrad Waite will be an Eagle in 2022, signing on as a playing assistant coach.

The star forward arrives from VAFA Premier powerhouse St Kevin’s where he kicked 58 goals in 2019 to lead the club to a grand final appearance.

Whittlesea coach Blair Harvey was rapt to have someone of Waite’s calibre on and off the field come to the NFL Division 1 club.

“There’s a family connection with Sam Indian, he came and watched a couple of games and was giving Sam a bit of guidance as a young forward,” Harvey said.

Jarrad Waite flies for the mark with St Kevin’s in the VAFA.

“He ticks every box for us, we’re a young side and we struggled to kick a big score, so we lacked a bit of on-field leadership.

“He’ll give us a target up forward and also that leadership, his knowledge and experience at AFL level, being able to pass that on and being out there playing with them will be invaluable for our boys.

“He’s excited about how young the group is, dipping his toe into coaching for the first time.”

Waite will get the chance to face former Kangaroos teammate Brent Harvey should be pair be fit and available when Whittlesea faces North Heidelberg.

He retired from the AFL in 2018 after 244 games and 377 goals and will still be a handful for NFL Division 1 defender at age 38.

Paul Higgins was the Eagles’ leading goalkicker last season with 17 majors but 13 of those came in two games, while Clancy Bland was second with 13.

Harvey said Waite would be an invaluable asset when it came to forward line strategy and cementing the connection between midfield and attack.

“We’ve been talking and he’s talking about structuring the forward line up, that’s very important to him,” he said.

“At the end of the day it’s our midfield that’s kicking the ball to our forwards so we need cohesion, there has to be a connection there.

“He wants to dig deep into our midfield – and most of our midfield rotates forward as well – and just setting up different plays and how to set up.

“For me, to get someone like Jarrad as an assistant coach, is going to be massive for me as well. I’m really looking forward to working with him.

Whittlesea has already re-signed the majority of its young list, including skipper Xavier Dimasi, defender Zac Molloy and promising midfielder Blake Watson.

Joint best-and-fairest winner in 2019, Matt Atta, will be a virtual recruit having played just two games this season.

With Waite filling a major need at full forward, a ruckman is next on Whittlesea’s wishlist.

Premiership big man Nathan Stefanile was limited to seven matches due to work commitments but the Eagles are hopeful of him returning in 2022.

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Harvey said a pair of young ruckman could also fill the void if needed.

“We’re hoping Nathan Stefanile, due to work commitments he had to pull the pin half way through the year, but he’s more settled now and he wants to come back,” he said.

“We’ve got a couple of young boys, Owen Sloane rucked the second half of the year and a really young, exciting boy, Harry, who was at Northern Knights and played school footy at Assumption.

“Harry is 200cm, he’s pretty light, but he’s only just turned 18 years old and he’s working super hard to get the best out of himself.”