AFL player manager Paul Peos says client Jake Waterman’s contract extension was recognition for his work over the 2024 season.
The full forward signed a four year contract extension with West Coast which will see him to the end of the 2029 season after an breakout season this year.
The 26 year-old bounced back from his illness-stricken season in 2023 to become one of West Coast’s top players – earning his maiden All Australian blazer, finishing third in the John Worsfold medal and winning the club’s leading goalkicker award for 2024.
Speaking on SportFM on Friday morning, Peos says this contract is a recognition of Waterman’s body of work – especially over the last season.
“These things unfold over a long period of time and certainly long term deals do and I think this deal is a culmination of a number of years of Jake’s work,” he said.
“He’s going to go into his eighth year next year and he’s been in the system for a good period of time, he’s done a fair bit of an apprenticeship under Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling for a period and played a number of different roles.
“In the last 18 months he’s been able to settle into his deep forward role which is where he played as a junior and from where he got drafted and I think he’s been able to show he can perform at that and it’s what he’s been able to prove certainly through this year.”
Waterman’s performance this year turned heads and attracted interest from other clubs – including Geelong, who were rumoured to offer him a long-term contract and lure him to Kardinia Park.
Melbourne also reportedly expressed their interest in the Eagles’ forward.
However, according to his manager, these discussions with other clubs on the Eastern Seaboard never entered the formal stage.
“We’ve been pretty open throughout this process. Last year there were some discussions with other club, but with Jake’s sickness, it was just really hard,”
“I think Jake just wanted something settled here and whilst there were some discussions more from my end, they didn’t progress to more of anything formal.
“As it transpired, obviously Jake got up and going pretty early in the year. A couple of those conversations returned early in the year to a short term extension for Jake and one we felt was a little bit push-through based on the circumstances that surrounded him and that’s fair enough.
“When it was very quickly evident he was over his sickness and back performing at a very high level then the club was happy to entertain the discussion about going further. Him coming out of free agency and a number of other things were pending and heading in that direction as well.
“The conversations were rejigged, but this year, certainly had no formal presentations to Jake to attempt to lure him east.“
With Waterman locked away, the future of the Eagles’ forward line looks stable, with him and fellow key forward Oscar Allen set to lead the charge. Also waiting in the wings are Jack Williams and Archer Reid who will continue to develop over the next few seasons.
Waterman will continues to be a key component of the Eagles’ overall structure, as they look to return to finals form under the guidance of newly-appointed head coach Andrew McQualter – and hopefully win a flag as his father Chris did back in the 1990s.
IMAGE: Shepparton News