For Jake Waterman, the call-up to the Western Australian side for Saturday’s AFL State of Origin clash was a bolt from the blue, a sentiment keenly shared by his father, former West Coast defender Chris Waterman. The younger Waterman, having battled a significant shoulder injury that sidelined him for an extended period, hadn’t been on many people’s radar for representative honours.
“I was surprised a little bit because his name hadn’t even been mentioned,” Chris Waterman confessed. “Then he rang me last Saturday… and said he’s in, and I thought that’s great. 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 is no stranger to the unique prestige of representing the West. He donned the state jumper in 1991, 1992, and 1995, even captaining the side in 1998. He vividly recalls the last iteration of the State of Origin game, a gruelling encounter against a formidable South Australian outfit.
“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 recounted. “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: A Resurrected Rivalry
Nearly three decades on, the AFL has breathed new life into the State of Origin concept, scheduling a pre-season exhibition match at Perth Stadium. This revival offers a fresh generation of players the chance to represent their home states, bestowing a particularly special honour upon two individuals: Jake Waterman and Nick Daicos, who will be the first father-son pairings to feature in the same Origin game.
“It’s a bit of a dream come true really,” Jake Waterman expressed, his excitement palpable. “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.”
Waterman Jr’s selection is a testament to his resilience. His past three seasons have been a rollercoaster, marked by recovery from serious illness, a career-best individual performance, and the significant shoulder injury that has kept him sidelined for 265 days, his last outing being in Adelaide in May.
The Significance of the Black Swan Jumper
Jake Waterman understands the profound significance of pulling on the West Australian jumper. “You’re not entitled to get to wear the WA jumper,” he stated. “I’ve been fortunate enough to do it plenty of times throughout my junior career and I know how special it is.”
He’s particularly looking forward to reconnecting with former West Coast teammate Tom Barrass, as well as Aaron Naughton and Sam Taylor, with whom he shared junior football experiences. The prospect of playing alongside some of the league’s most dynamic small forwards has him particularly eager.
“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, a grin evident in his voice.
Brotherhood and Advice from the Old Guard
Chris Waterman has imparted crucial advice to his son as he prepares for this unique occasion. “Enjoy the moment because it’s quite different,” he urged. “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.”
He added a note of caution, acknowledging the inherent pressure. “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.”
The WA squad will convene on Wednesday night, aiming to forge a strong sense of unity and camaraderie ahead of the match. Jake is confident that the week will be a memorable one, forging lasting bonds.
“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 declared. “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.”
