Jake Waterman won’t be alone watching on enviously during tomorrow’s historic night Grand Final.
When Geelong and Richmond players bottle up their nervous energy and stare each other down in readiness for the national anthem at the Gabba, there is little doubt West Coast's playing group and coaches will feel a tinge of what might have been.
It will be a sensation shared across 16 clubs, who all face another arduous summer of training before they can again hit bodies in anger and chase the Sherrin in their bid to reach the holy grail.
Although this far-from-ordinary season ended far sooner than West Coast hoped, 22-year-old Waterman believed there were positive signs from 2020, especially amongst his cohort of emerging Eagles.
It is that next crop who are promising to drive the group forward, including the likes of John Worsfold Medal top-five placegetter Liam Duggan and Emerging Talent winner Josh Rotham.
“I think that middle age bracket that I’m in at the moment, the players in that sort of area took a bit of onus this year to take it upon ourselves and really establish ourselves in the 22,” Waterman told westcoasteagles.com.au.
“Guys like Jackson Nelson, Tommy Cole, Joshy Rotham, Oscar (Allen) and even ‘Duggo’; I think they all took their game to the next level.
“It’s key to any side that wants success is you’ve got that next group of players coming through and to push the older boys as well.
“We’re excited. We’re a pretty tight-knit group of mates so doing it together makes it more special.”
Waterman’s confidence in the team’s direction was clear in the wake of West Coast’s elimination final defeat to Collingwood, following confirmation of his three-year contract extension.
It came after a season when the mobile forward was forced to earn his spot.
But once he was in against Sydney in round five Waterman kick-started West Coast's stalled campaign with two first-quarter goals, including a team-lifting bomb after the siren.
His passion rubbed off on those around him, and from that point on the son-of-a-gun was a regular in West Coast's line-up.
“It took me a while to get in the side. I got my first crack in round five and then was lucky enough to hold it down from then on,” Waterman reflected.
“Unfortunately broke my hand in the middle of that so I missed a few games there, but I think I took another step in the direction I’m trying to head into."
The enthusiastic Eagle added 10 games to his career total in 2020, and his versatility to run through midfield or push into defence was an asset for coach Adam Simpson.
Waterman's medium-term future appears alongside Allen and Jack Darling in attack after 37 goals in 39 matches across four seasons on the list, but he will do whatever job his team needs to win.
“Playing different roles can only help me in the long run. I’m more than happy to play whatever role or position on the ground, as long as I’m in the 22," he said.
“I think versatility is one of my main assets and being able to go wherever, go behind the ball or on a wing, or just start forward and play a different role in the forward line is going to help me and add strings to my bow.”
