Jake Waterman on sharing the forward line with Oscar Allen, backing up All-Australian season

Despite statistics suggesting Jake Waterman shines as the Eagles’ focal point in attack, he was thrilled to share the forward line with Oscar Allen again. But will it be a permanent fixture?

Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) key forward Jake Waterman says “it just feels right” lining up alongside Oscar Allen in attack after the co-captain made a successful return to the forward line against Euro-Yroke (St Kilda).

After struggling for form early in the season, the 26-year-old has spent the last three games playing as a key defender in the absence of Jeremy McGovern (concussion). The 26-year-old was unleashed up forward against the Saints and enjoyed his best performance of the season, kicking 2.2 from 13 disposals and four marks in the 28-point win.

It’s the first time Allen, who has been widely linked to a move to Brisbane or Hawthorn, has kicked multiple goals in a game since round one against Gold Coast. He bagged just four majors in the first five games of the season before being managed against Essendon.

Discounting the three games Allen spent down back, he and Waterman have played 24 games together in the last three seasons. In that stretch, Allen has kicked 51 goals at an average of 2.13 and Waterman 37 majors at a strike rate of 1.54.

In the 11 games Waterman has lined up as the Eagles’ sole spearhead since 2023, he’s kicked 35 goals at an average of 3.18. Conversely, when Allen has been the main man in attack in 13 games, he’s snagged 24 goals at an average of 1.84.

Despite the stats suggesting Waterman shines as the Eagles’ focal point, the 27-year-old was thrilled to share the forward line with Allen again.

“I’m so happy for him,” he said. “It feels right having him alongside me.

“He kicked a couple, could’ve kicked a few more. He’s building.

“He’s got to get his body in the right space, but it’s been a pretty tough year for him so far. Hopefully he plays some strong footy in the back half of the year.

“We’ve had other guys through there. Bailey Williams has been good. Jack (Williams) as well. They’ve all been great. But it’s good to have him down there.”

Coach Andrew McQualter said post-game that Allen’s return to attack might not be permanent.

Waterman hasn’t hit the heights of his 2024 season just yet. Picture: Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Allen has been shuffled around this season. Picture: Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“What it shows you is that Oscar is an absolute team man,” McQualter said. “He’s played where the team has needed him to play all year.

“We’ll keep working with Oscar, and whether he needs to play forward or back, it’ll be determined by where the team needs him to play.”

Waterman admitted he had some sleepless nights after kicking 1.3 in Waalitj Marawar’s two-point loss to Richmond in round nine. Normally one of the most accurate set shots at the club, the All-Australian went to work at training last week for a return of 2.1 against the Saints.

“I was a bit filthy last week,” he said. “I pride myself on my finishing and my goal kicking.

“I hit them well last week, but a couple of things didn’t go my way. I had a few shots at training this week, that’s for sure.”

Ever the competitor, Waterman conceded he didn’t have his best afternoon against All-Australian defender Callum Wilkie. After a breakout 2024 season, Waterman says he now expects the opposition’s No. 1 defender.

“It started happening last year a little bit,” he said. “But if you’re not up for the challenge against the best, you’re not going to make it.

“I didn’t have my best game today in terms of my contest. He’s got a way of getting you into awkward spots, and I lost a few to him today, so that’s something I’ll go to work on.

“I love going up against the best defenders. They’re all so different and unique in the way they play the game.

“So, I just have to keep adjusting. I didn’t adjust too well today, but I’ll go to work and be better next week.”

It didn’t help that several Eagles were struck down by illness in the lead-up to the game, including Waterman. As he continues to manage ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease that threatened to end his AFL career in 2023, Waterman said he’d learnt to take it easy on himself.

The Eagles picked up their first win of 2025 on Sunday Picture: Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“I was pretty short of breath today,” he said. “There’s something going around at the moment.

“I spent a few days at home on the back-end of last week. I was blowing the cobwebs out today, and now I’m feeling the effects.

“You just have to look after yourself. Off the back of my health troubles, I need to be really careful with when and how I exert my energy.

“If that means taking things easy during the week, then I’ve got to do that. It’s a tough game.”