Chris Waterman didn’t sugar-coat his reaction to son Jake being picked for Western Australia for Saturday’s AFL Origin match.
Coming off a long-term shoulder injury, Jake Waterman hadn’t been in Origin calculations for many people.Â
“[I was] surprised a little bit because his name hadn’t even been mentioned,” the former West Coast defender said.
“Then he rang me last Saturday … and said he’s in, and I thought that’s great.
Jake Waterman and his father Chris enjoy a laugh. (ABC News: Tom Wildie)
“He came out of the blue and wasn’t expected [to play], so we were all pleasantly surprised that he’s going to get that opportunity.”
The elder Waterman knows a thing or two about playing for WA.
He featured in 1991, ’92, ’95, and was captain in 1998.
He still remembers playing against a strong South Australian side in what was WA’s last State of Origin game.
The iconic black swan guernsey will be worn by Western Australia’s AFL players for the first time since 1998. (Facebook: Roger Cook)
“I remember chasing Mickie O’Loughlin around Footy (Football) Park that night in South Australia, which was hard work, and then I got shifted onto Darren Jarman, so I had a pretty busy night,” he said.
“South Australia were half Adelaide Crows, they went on and won the flag, so we went down by seven goals.
“I didn’t know that was going to be the last one, though. I thought it was going to live on.”
Origin 2.0
Nearly 30 years later, the AFL has resurrected the concept, staging the game at Perth Stadium during the pre-season.
It’s allowed another generation of players to wear their state jumper — and bestowed two players with an unusual honour.
Jake Waterman and Nick Daicos will be the first father-son Origin players.
Jake Waterman has cemented himself as the West Coast Eagles’ best forward, but his 2025 campaign was ruined by a shoulder injury. (Getty Images: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos)
“It’s a bit of a dream come true really,” Jake said.
“You look at old footage back in the day of all the State of Origin games and the great players that sort of solidify their greatness in games like this.
“I just can’t wait to get out there.”
The younger Waterman’s selection comes after an up-and-down three seasons, which have seen him recover from serious illness, produce a career-best year, and suffer a serious injury.
Saturday’s match will be his first in 265 days, since he suffered a shoulder dislocation playing in Adelaide last May.
‘Special’ jumper
Waterman Jr knows how special the occasion is.
“You’re not entitled to get to wear the WA jumper,” Jake said.
Does State of Origin have any place left in the AFL?
“I’ve been fortunate enough to do it plenty of times throughout my junior career and I know how special it is.”
Jake said he’s looking forward to being reunited with former West Coast teammate Tom Barrass, as well as Aaron Naughton and Sam Taylor, who he played junior football with.Â
And the prospect of playing alongside some of the competition’s best small forwards has him licking his lips.Â
“Guys like Kozzy Pickett, Charlie Cameron, I’m really excited to play in the same forward line as them and see what type of magic they can get up to,” he said.
Black swan brotherhood
He’ll have advice from his father ringing in his ears.
“Enjoy the moment because it’s quite different,” Chris said.
“It’s a different feeling warming up, a different feeling running up the race and getting in that last huddle before the game because you’re looking around and there’s faces you’re not used to.
“In some way, it’s a little bit daunting because you sort of feel like I just can’t fail in front of these guys, these are the best going around in my state.”
Chris Waterman (right) played 177 games for West Coast and was part of their 1992 and 1994 premiership teams. (ABC News: Tom Wildie)
The WA team will assemble on Wednesday night in a bid to foster a sense of camaraderie, and Jake is confident it will be a memorable week.
“If my teammates can walk off after the game, regardless of the result or how I played, [and know] that I’m a serious player, that cracked in for his state and cracked in for his boys that he played alongside, then yeah, that’s all I can ask for,” he said.
“I’ve got no doubt I’m going to make some lifelong friends over the next sort of week or so and look back on this week and the game very fondly down the track.”Loading