West Coast’s All-Australian forward Jake Waterman has declared he wants to “level up” his game this season.
Waterman starred in a career-best season last year, where he led the Eagles’ forward line as co-captain Oscar Allen battled injury.
SIGN UP HERE FOR FREE FOOTY TIPPING TO WIN A SHARE OF $85K
But he is now primed to start the season alongside Allen — and likely young gun Archer Reid — in what could become one of the best forward duos in the competition.
The 26-year-old has opened up on his breakout season and what it means for the latest part of his career.
Waterman’s 2024 campaign, where he booted a career-high 53 goals, was so good the club renegotiated his contract for another four years.
“I’m confident in my game at the moment I’ve just got to keep levelling up, last year was great but I think I’ve got another level to get to,” he said.
“It’s tough being a key forward in this league but I think I’ve got the processes in place to be a good, consistent key forward and be a good, consistent leader and player for this team and whether that results in goals every week or marks so be it but I just want to have an impact and be a consistent leader.
“It fills you with a good amount of confidence and self-belief that being tried and tested that you can stack up against some of the best and I know the recipe to be able to be a good player in the league now.
“It’s going to work some days and some days it won’t and I’ve just got to keep being consistent and making sure that I can be a better player most weeks or not.”
Waterman — who is a good chance to go one-on-one with Gold Coast stopper Charlie Ballard — said he has itchy feet for the Eagles’ first game of the season on Sunday afternoon.
“I’ve been a bit itchy now for a couple of weeks since we played against North and it’s exciting to get out there and get to the real deal,” he said.
Allen, who is at the centre of one of the league’s biggest contract saga, has paired with Waterman for just 43 games over seven seasons on the list together. The Eagles skipper played just 11 times last season.
“It’s exciting to have him back fit and firing, we’ve played a lot of footy together in patches and we’re very confident in each other’s games and we know how we like to play and lead,” he said.
“It fills me with a lot of confidence knowing that even though sometimes I can’t see him on the field I know where he’s going to be and what actions I can act off him, it’s good.”
Waterman expects him and Allen to lead the Eagles’ forward line this year, but the club could also unleash 2023 pick 30 Archer Reid in the early part of the season.
Reid is in the mix to support the two big forwards, along with ruck Bailey Williams and Jack Williams.
Waterman has declared Reid is primed to debut.
“I’ve been so impressed since he comes through last year, just look at his stature he is huge,” he said.
“He’s a blank canvas and he’s put on a bit of weight, he’s still got a bit to go but the way he applies himself to learning structures, learning game plans, and getting the best out of himself.
“He plays an interesting position where if he’s probably going to be playing in the side, he’d be playing forward and a bit of ruck, which is a tough position no doubt but he’s got the tools.
“I think eventually he’ll just be a mainstay key forward once he’s filled his body out and he’s put on a bit of size but that’s probably his role in our side at the moment and we’ve just got to be there to support him and try and try and help him grow as a player,
“We just need him to be a consistent player on our team, we don’t need him to to be trying to kick all these goals he just needs to go after his role and try to do that as best he can.”