NewsBite

VAFA 2018: former AFL forward Jarrad Waite joins VAFA Premier club

EX-Carlton and North Melbourne forward Jarrad Waite has announced where he will continue his football career next year.

EVER since Jarrad Waite announced his retirement from the AFL touts around the local football traps have been linking him with North Heidelberg and Sorrento.

But the former Carlton and North Melbourne forward is heading neither north nor south.

Waite, 35, has joined VAFA club St Kevin’s Old Boys, strengthening a team that has won the past two Premier section flags.

The club confirmed the signing in a message to supporters last night.

MORE LOCAL FOOTY

ST KEVINS NOSES OUT COLLEGIANS IN GRAND FINAL

FIRST TAC CUP FLAG FOR STINGRAYS

OAKLEIGH'S MATT ROWELL ON THE CHARGE

In it SKOB football director Michael Christian said St Kevin’s was “absolutely thrilled that Jarrad, his wife Jackie and family have decided to join our great club’’.

“Jarrad will obviously add enormous value on the field with his football prowess but his passion to help develop our younger players will also be of great benefit to our club,’’ Christian said.

“Our priority is to continue to develop our young players and this will be enhanced significantly with Jarrad assisting in this area. We look forward to a long association with Jarrad and his family.’’

Jarrad Waite booted 377 games during his long AFL career.
Jarrad Waite booted 377 games during his long AFL career.

Waite said in the message: “I’m very much looking forward with my family to (becoming) part of the SKOB community.

“I still have an urge to play football and importantly a desire to help develop and nurture younger players. I’m very excited about being part of the club.’’

Waite had a long and decorated career in the AFL, playing 184 games with Carlton from 2003 to 2014 and another 60 with North Melbourne from 2015 to this year.

He topped Carlton’s goalkicking in 2014 and did the same with the Kangaroos a year later.

All up his 244 games brought him 377 goals.

Meanwhile the St Kevin’s senior best and fairest was a tie for the second successive season, with former West Coast Eagles player Mitch Brown and AFL draft roughie Billy Kanakis both jagging 76 votes.

Kanakis also led the goalkicking with 63.

Sam Critchley was runner-up in the best and fairest, Lachlan Sullivan was best finals player, Shaun Kennedy took the coaches’ award and Lachlan Farrugia was best first-year player.

St Kevin’s has confirmed that co-premiership coach Tom Williams, who has been linked with a role with the Gold Coast Suns, has stood down.

Former Sandringham VFL player Guy Martyn will continue on as senior coach.

MORE LOCAL FOOTY

EFL CONFIRMS LATEST CLUB

EAGLES SWOOP ON NFL LEGEND

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/vafa-2018-former-afl-forward-jarrad-waite-joins-vafa-premier-club/news-story/5b4c11c91abf88930352a9b0fb902f5e