Jake Waterman: AFL star with Crohn’s disease, contract and family

When Jake Waterman was diagnosed with severe ulcerative colitis in 2023, the West Coast Eagles forward could barely hold down food, let alone a training session. A year later, he was an All Australian. That turnaround — from losing 12 kilograms and wondering if his AFL career was over to kicking 53 goals in a season — is the kind of story that makes footy fans stop and pay attention.

Age: 26 (born 6 May 1998) · Height: 192 cm · AFL games: 127 (as of 2025) · Team: West Coast Eagles · 2024 honour: All Australian · Contract: Five-year deal signed in 2025

Eight defining facts about Jake Waterman, from his family roots to his health battle:

What autoimmune disease does Jake Waterman have?

Jake Waterman was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a chronic autoimmune condition that causes inflammation of the lower digestive tract. ABC News (Australia’s national broadcaster) reported that specialists identified the condition after Waterman became a late withdrawal in Round 13 of the 2023 season against Adelaide due to illness.

What is ulcerative colitis?

• An inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes long-lasting inflammation and ulcers in the colon and rectum (ABC News)
• Classified as an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system attacks the digestive tract
• Common symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhoea, weight loss, and fatigue

When was Jake Waterman diagnosed?

• Waterman played 11 of West Coast’s first 12 games in 2023 before withdrawing in Round 13 (Wikipedia)
• After returning to Perth, specialists diagnosed severe ulcerative colitis (ABC News)
• He lost 12 kilograms during the illness and spent three weeks resting at home before returning to training (ABC News)

The implication: Waterman’s diagnosis came at a critical point in his career. He was 25, had just signed a two-year contract extension in September 2023, and suddenly faced a condition that could have ended his time in the AFL. Instead, he rebuilt his body and returned stronger.

Who is Jake Waterman’s father?

Jake Waterman’s father is Chris Waterman, a former West Coast Eagles player who carved out a durable career at the same club his son now represents. The Waterman name carries weight in Western Australian football circles.

Is Jake Waterman Chris Waterman’s son?

• Yes — Chris Waterman is Jake’s father, and Jake was recruited under the AFL’s father-son rule (The West Australian)
• Jake was selected with pick No. 77 in the 2016 AFL draft as a father-son selection

What is Chris Waterman known for?

• Played 147 games for West Coast Eagles between 1990 and 2000 (Wikipedia)
• Part of the West Coast team during the club’s early success era
• Helped establish the family legacy that allowed Jake to enter the AFL system

The pattern: Jake is not the first son of a former Eagle to wear the blue and gold, but his arc — from father-son pick to All Australian — is among the most complete. The father-son pathway gave him a foot in the door; his own work kept him there.

How much does Jake Waterman make a year?

ESPN (global sports media outlet) reported that Waterman’s 2024 contract extension runs through the end of the 2029 AFL season, a five-year commitment from West Coast that reflects his value after a career-best season in 2024.

What is Jake Waterman’s contract value?

• Signed a five-year deal in 2024 that keeps him at West Coast through 2029 (West Coast Eagles (official club website))
• The West Australian reported the new deal was restructured from the final year of his previous contract
• Waterman is reported to earn close to $1 million a season over the next five years (The West Australian)
• His prior two-year deal, signed in September 2023, was reportedly worth less than $500,000 a season (ESPN)

How does his salary compare to other West Coast players?

• Exact salary figures for all West Coast players are not publicly disclosed due to AFL salary cap confidentiality
• Top-tier AFL forwards typically earn between $800,000 and $1.2 million per season
• Waterman’s reported $1 million per year range places him in the upper tier of key forwards at the club

What this means: Waterman’s contract trajectory — from a modest two-year deal worth under $500,000 annually to a five-year extension at close to $1 million per season — tracks his rapid rise. The club saw his 2024 breakout as confirmation, not aberration.

Does Crohn’s get worse with age?

While Jake Waterman was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (a related inflammatory bowel disease), the broader question applies to IBD conditions generally. These are lifelong conditions that require ongoing management.

How does IBD affect athletes?

• IBD conditions like ulcerative colitis can cause fatigue, weight loss, and reduced nutrient absorption — all challenges for elite athletes (ABC News)
• Waterman manages his condition through daily medication and infusion treatment every couple of months (ABC News)
• Dietary management and monitoring of symptoms are essential for maintaining training load

What treatments help manage IBD symptoms?

• Anti-inflammatory medications and immunosuppressants are standard treatments
• Regular infusion therapy (biologics) helps control moderate to severe cases — Waterman uses this approach (ABC News)
• Diet modifications, stress management, and regular medical monitoring help maintain remission
• Without treatment, symptoms can worsen over time, but consistent management allows many patients to lead active lives

The catch: IBD is progressive in the sense that underlying inflammation can cause long-term damage if untreated. But with modern biologic therapies and lifestyle adjustments — both of which Waterman has adopted — many patients, including elite athletes, can maintain peak performance.

What position does Jake Waterman play?

Jake Waterman plays as a key forward for the West Coast Eagles, wearing jumper number 2. His role centres on marking, goal-kicking, and providing a tall target inside 50.

What role does Waterman fill for the Eagles?

• Primary position: key forward, responsible for leading up at the ball and taking contested marks
• Has also been used as a tall defender when team structure required it
• Known for accurate kicking and strong overhead marking (Wikipedia)

How has his position evolved over his career?

• Drafted as a forward in 2016, debuted in 2018
• Played a mix of forward and defensive roles in early seasons while finding his feet
• By 2024, settled as a permanent key forward and delivered a career-best season
• His 2024 All Australian selection confirmed him as one of the competition’s elite forwards

The pattern: Waterman’s positional flexibility early in his career — swinging between forward and defence — made him a reliable utility player. His 2024 breakout came when the club committed to him as a dedicated forward, and he rewarded that trust with career-high numbers.

Is Jake Waterman single?

Jake Waterman keeps his personal life private. There is no confirmed public information about his current relationship status as of 2025.

Who is Jake Waterman’s partner?

• No confirmed public information about a current partner
• Waterman has not publicly introduced a partner on social media or in interviews
• He maintains a low profile regarding his personal relationships

Does Jake Waterman have children?

• No known children as of 2025
• No public records or announcements indicate he has children

The catch: In an era where many AFL players share their family lives publicly, Waterman’s privacy is a deliberate choice. His Instagram presence focuses on football, training, and team content rather than personal relationships.

“An absolute honour that I’ll cherish forever.”

— Jake Waterman, Instagram post reacting to his All Australian selection in 2024 (Wikipedia)

“I’m on daily medication and infusion treatment roughly every couple of months.”

— Jake Waterman, describing his management of ulcerative colitis to ABC News

“West Coast lock in Jake Waterman on new five-year deal after breakout All-Australian season.”

— The West Australian, reporting on Waterman’s contract extension

For the West Coast Eagles, the decision to invest in Waterman through 2029 was not just about rewarding past performance — it was a bet on longevity. The club committed approximately $1 million per season to a forward who had delivered exactly one elite campaign. The bet, so far, looks prudent. For Waterman, the contract represents security and validation: a player who was a late father-son pick, nearly lost his career to illness, and then became one of the AFL’s most dangerous key forwards. The next chapter — managing his condition over a long contract while maintaining All Australian output — will test both his body and the club’s faith.

Jake Waterman’s remarkable comeback from ulcerative colitis is detailed in Jake Watermans health journey, which covers his health and career.

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