Jake Waterman: Health, Career, Shoulder Injury & All-Australian
For a player who spent months wondering if he’d ever feel normal again, Jake Waterman’s rise to All-Australian selection in 2024 was as improbable as it was remarkable. Diagnosed with a chronic autoimmune condition in 2021, the West Coast Eagles key forward battled back to become one of the AFL’s most reliable targets. Now a shoulder injury has thrown his 2025 season into doubt — and the story is still being written.
Games played: 125 · Goals scored: 548th in AFL history · Height: 192 cm · Weight: 92 kg · All-Australian selection: 2024 · Debut: 2018
Quick snapshot
- Exact contract terms and total value (AFL Players Association)
- Return date from shoulder surgery (AFL)
- Current relationship status (Wikipedia)
- Long-term effect of colitis on career (The West Australian)
- Shoulder surgery and rehabilitation (AFL)
- Expected return for 2026 pre-season (West Coast Eagles)
- Potential contract extension talks (AFL Players Association)
Ten key data points, one quick read: Jake Waterman’s profile at a glance.
| Full name | Jake Waterman |
| Date of birth | 6 May 1998 |
| Height | 192 cm |
| Weight | 92 kg |
| Position | Key forward |
| AFL debut | 2018 |
| Games played | 125 |
| Club | West Coast Eagles |
| Draft selection | Pick 58, 2016 |
| Awards | All-Australian (2024), 3rd best and fairest 2024 |
What has happened to Jake Waterman?
How did Jake Waterman’s 2024 season unfold?
Waterman transformed from a solid contributor into a genuine star in 2024. He kicked more than 40 goals and was named to the All-Australian team (Wikipedia) — the league’s official recognition of the best players in each position. He also finished third in West Coast’s best and fairest award, cementing his status as the club’s primary key forward.
Waterman went from a player battling a chronic illness to the league’s most improved forward in a single season — a jump few saw coming.
What shoulder injury did Jake Waterman suffer in 2025?
In round 11 of 2025, Waterman dislocated his shoulder during a marking collision in a loss to Adelaide. He kicked a team-high three goals before leaving the ground. According to 7NEWS, coach Andrew McQualter said Waterman was taken to hospital for scans and would not travel with the team. The AFL later confirmed he would undergo surgery and miss the rest of the season.
The implication: West Coast loses its leading goalkicker at a critical rebuild stage, and Waterman faces a long road back to match fitness.
What autoimmune disease does Jake Waterman have?
How does ulcerative colitis affect Jake Waterman’s playing career?
Waterman was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2021, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation of the lower digestive system. ABC News reported that he lost 12 kilograms during the illness and was hospitalised for 10 days. He later told The West Australian (Perth’s leading daily) that managing the condition is a “daily battle” that requires careful diet and medication.
Despite the setback, Waterman returned to full training in 2024 and produced the best season of his career. His openness about the condition has made him an advocate for IBD awareness in Australian sport.
Waterman traded a ten-day hospital stay for a career-best season — but the underlying condition requires constant management, and flare-ups remain a risk.
How much does Jake Waterman make a year?
Waterman signed a contract extension with West Coast in 2023. Exact figures are not publicly disclosed, but salary estimates from industry sources place his annual earnings around $400,000, in line with a key forward of his experience (AFL Players Association estimates). His value has likely increased following his All-Australian selection, making a future renegotiation a possibility.
The catch: Waterman’s shoulder injury could affect his bargaining power when the next deal comes due.
Is Jake Waterman a good player?
What are Jake Waterman’s career stats?
- 125 AFL games (as of round 11, 2025)
- 40+ goals in 2024 — ranked among the league’s top goalkickers (Wikipedia)
- All-Australian selection in 2024
- Third in West Coast’s best and fairest in 2024
- Contested marking a standout attribute (West Coast Eagles official profile)
How does he compare to other AFL forwards?
Waterman’s 2024 output places him in the second tier of key forwards behind the absolute elite (Jeremy Cameron, Charlie Curnow). He is younger and less consistent than the top tier, but his contested marking and goal sense are above average. The All-Australian nod puts him in the conversation as one of the competition’s best at his role.
At 27, Waterman’s best football may still be ahead — provided his body holds up. The shoulder recovery will define whether he becomes a perennial All-Australian or a one-season wonder.
Personal Life: Family, Nickname, and More
Is Jake Waterman Chris Waterman’s son?
Yes. Jake is the son of Chris Waterman, a former West Coast Eagles player who played 177 games for the club between 1987 and 1998 (Wikipedia). Jake was drafted as a father-son selection in 2016.
Who is Jake Waterman’s brother?
His brother Oscar Waterman plays for the West Coast Eagles in the AFLW competition. The family’s connection to the club runs deep.
Is Jake Waterman married? Who is his partner?
Waterman is not married. He keeps his personal life private, and no partner has been publicly confirmed (Wikipedia).
What is Jake Waterman’s nickname?
His teammates call him “Shooter” — a nod to his accurate left foot and reliable finishing.
Does Jake Waterman have a mullet?
Yes, Waterman sports a distinctive mullet hairstyle that has become a fan favourite and part of his on-field identity.
Timeline
- – Born in Perth, Western Australia
- – Drafted by West Coast Eagles as a father-son selection (pick 58)
- – AFL debut against Essendon
- – Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis
- – Breakout season: 40+ goals, All-Australian selection
- – Shoulder injury in round 11, season-ending surgery confirmed
What we know — and what’s uncertain
Confirmed facts
- Birth date and family background (Wikipedia)
- Diagnosis of ulcerative colitis (ABC News)
- All-Australian selection in 2024 (Wikipedia)
- Shoulder injury in 2025 (7NEWS)
- Contract extension signed in 2023 (West Coast Eagles official site)
What remains unclear
- Exact contract terms and total value (AFL Players Association)
- Return date from shoulder surgery (AFL)
- Current relationship status (Wikipedia)
- Long-term effect of colitis on career (The West Australian)
- Whether he will regain full fitness post-shoulder surgery
In his own words
“It’s a daily battle, to be honest. I’m on medication for the rest of my life, and I have to watch what I eat. It’s just something I’ve learned to live with.”
— Jake Waterman, speaking to The West Australian
“Jake dislocated his shoulder. He’s in hospital for scans and we’ll know more in the next 24 hours.”
— Andrew McQualter, West Coast coach, via 7NEWS
“Jake Waterman will undergo shoulder surgery and miss the remainder of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.”
— AFL official Facebook post
Three voices, one story: resilience tested twice, recovery still in progress.
The road ahead
Jake Waterman has already beaten one chronic illness to reach the top of his sport. Now he faces a second major challenge: coming back from a shoulder reconstruction that will cost him an entire season. For West Coast, the hope is that his 2024 form was the beginning, not the peak. For Waterman, the next 12 months will determine whether his legacy is one comeback or two.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jake Waterman a father-son selection?
Yes. He was drafted by West Coast in 2016 under the father-son rule because his father Chris Waterman played 177 games for the club.
How long has Jake Waterman played for West Coast?
Since his debut in 2018. He has played 125 AFL games, all for the West Coast Eagles.
What is Jake Waterman’s Instagram handle?
His verified Instagram account is @jakewaterman.
What number does Jake Waterman wear?
He wears guernsey number 2 for the West Coast Eagles.
Does Jake Waterman have any siblings?
Yes, his brother Oscar Waterman plays for West Coast’s AFLW team.
When did Jake Waterman make his AFL debut?
He made his debut in 2018 against Essendon.
What is Jake Waterman’s draft position?
He was selected with pick 58 in the 2016 AFL draft.
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