Latest news with #JakeWaterman
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Footy star reveals the simple diet change he used to beat horrible disease that is ruining the lives of tens of thousands of Aussies
Jake Waterman enjoyed one of his best seasons in a gold and blue guernsey in 2024. The 27-year-old was the West Coast's leading goal kicker, booting 53 goals for the year, which is a career high for the key forward. But rewind the tape back, and things were very different for Waterman, who had been unknowingly suffering from a horrible illness that over 180,000 people in Australia currently suffer from. He admitted he'd wake up in the morning suffering from severe pain in his abdomen and struggled to play footy. Prior to a game in 2023, the Eagles star had been feeling nauseous, had severe stomach cramps and was suffering from diarrhoea. 'I had to fly home and get myself into a hospital because I couldn't do anything, I was too ill,' Waterman told The Daily Telegraph. Waterman (right) was diagnosed with the illness back in 2023 after spending several weeks in hospital The footy star was subsequently diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC), after spending several weeks in hospital. UC is a bowel disorder that can cause inflammation and ulceration in a person's large intestine. Inflammatory bowel disease affects the inner lining of the large intestine and is a lifelong condition. The inflammation can cause redness, swelling and pain, while ulcers can also develop on the surface of the intestines. Other symptoms can include fatigue, diarrhoea and a loss of appetite. The cause of the illness is unknown, and while there is no known cure, it can be treated using medication, dietary changes and surgery. Spending several weeks in hospital felt like a 'blur' for the footy star, who revealed that he felt like he was stuck in a vicious cycle and didn't have 'much hope.' 'I woke up every day in pain, stuck on the couch trying to sleep again,' he explained. The illness sent him into a downward spiral, with Waterman explaining: 'I was down in the dumps, feeling horrible.' 'I just wanted to feel normal again.' Waterman played only 11 games during the 2023 season, a far cry from the 20 he featured in the previous year. But the resilient footballer was not going to let the illness get to him. He made some big changes to his diet and lifestyle, removing processed foods from his diet. He has begun to focus more on his nutrition in a bid to improve his gut health. The 27-year-old admitted that, even though he is an elite athlete, he had not been much of an expert in nutrition prior to being diagnosed. Now, Waterman is staying focused on refuelling with the right foods; a vital step in helping him perform at his best and manage the illness. And it sure has worked. Amid the tribulations of 2023, Waterman bounced back from a horrible period to enjoy an excellent 2024, earning himself his first All-Australian blazer. Waterman is also an ambassador for Chron's and Colitis Australia, and is helping to raise awareness of the illness. 'I feel like I've got an obligation to speak up and shine a light on these conditions,' he said. Agonisingly, Waterman has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2025 season after he dislocated his shoulder during the Eagles' Round 11 defeat by Adelaide. During his time away from the pitch, the 27-year-old has been using his time to speak to others who have the condition. 'I recently went to a Crohn's and colitis day, and I was able to speak to some young kids and parents about their struggles and hardships,' Waterman explained. 'My situation doesn't hold a candle to what they're going through… my heart breaks for them.' After his successful 2024 campaign, Waterman re-signed with the Eagles until 2029. It was a just reward for the work he did to help lift the West Coast, who have been battling their way through a torrid few seasons. And now, after Jack Darling's departure from the Mineral Resources Park, Waterman has stepped up to fill the void, while turning down offers from Geelong and Melbourne to lure the Western Australia-born star to Victoria. 'Now it's finally done, it's reality now, and I'm just happy that I'm locked away here for the next five years,' he said.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Eagles skipper Oscar Allen finds his happy place
West Coast co-captain Oscar Allen has found his mojo - it was hiding in the forward 50m arc all along. Allen produced his best game of the season by kicking 4.0 in Sunday's 43-point loss to Geelong at Optus Stadium. The 26-year-old kicked two goals in the second quarter and handed off another to help his team fight back from 29 points down. West Coast closed to within six points early in the last quarter before Geelong piled on seven of the final eight goals of the match to run away with the 17.14 (116) to 11.7 (73) win. Allen kicked 53 goals in 2023 to announce himself as one of the best key forwards in the competition. But he was so out of form earlier this year that he was moved into West Coast's defence for games against Hawthorn and Melbourne. Allen contributed strongly in those matches, and he expressed his desire to play wherever the team needed him most. But the glint in his eyes was evident when he returned to attack in round 10 against St Kilda. Allen kicked two goals in the upset win over St Kilda and followed it up with two goals against Adelaide. Allen snaps a fourth and the Eagles are sticking with the Cats 👀#AFLEaglesCats — AFL (@AFL) June 1, 2025 Jake Waterman's season-ending shoulder injury meant it was up to Allen to lead the team's attack against Geelong, and he stood up in grand style. "Look, we know how good a forward he is, but like I say always - the team will always come first for all of our players," West Coast coach Andrew McQualter said. "So Oscar having that flexibility is a bonus. We shouldn't look it as a as a negative thing. "It's a good thing for our team that he can play both ends of the ground, but he might have earned himself another week in the forward line." With All-Australian Waterman out of action for the rest of the year, you can bet your bottom dollar Allen will stay in attack to help the likes of Archer Reid and Jack Williams continue their development. "Archer and Jack are young. They're competing really hard, and they're getting some looks, but I think Oscar's experience there makes a big difference," McQualter said. Harley Reid tallied 19 disposals, seven clearances and a goal against Geelong despite being heavily tagged by Oisin Mullin. "I think he really had an impact on the game," McQualter said. "(Under a) heavy tag, from the outset, he worked his way into the game and had some really pivotal moments. "He's not going to have massive amount of touches when you get heavy tag like that, but he had some great moments that helped our team, for sure." West Coast (1-11) will be back in action on Sunday when they take on North Melbourne (2-1-8) in a bottom-of-the-table clash in Bunbury.
West Australian
27-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
West Coast Eagles weighing up placing Jake Waterman on inactive list as club renews interest in WAFL star
The West Australian exclusive West Coast Eagles weighing up placing Jake Waterman on inactive list as club renews interest in WAFL star
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Star Eagle pops shoulder as Rachele inspires Crows
Star forward Jake Waterman could be set for a lengthy stint on the sidelines after dislocating his right shoulder in West Coast's 66-point loss to Adelaide at Adelaide Oval. In a match played in a swirling breeze, Adelaide led by just four points midway through the second quarter before piling on 10 of the next 12 goals to set up the 19.14 (128) to 8.14 (62) win. Josh Rachele was the star of the show in Sunday's win with five goals, while Jordan Dawson tallied 27 disposals, eight clearances, two goals and 602m gained. Tempers boiled over in the dying minutes when Eagles recruit Liam Baker pushed his forearm into the back of James Peatling's neck while the Crow was face-down on the ground. The incident sparked a major melee that is sure to attract plenty of fines. Tempers flare between the Crows and the Eagles following this tackle.#AFLCrowsEagles — AFL (@AFL) May 25, 2025 The percentage-boosting result ensured Adelaide (7-4) will finish the round in the top four, while West Coast (1-10) couldn't reproduce the heroics from last week's breakthrough win over St Kilda. Adding to West Coast's woes was an injury to Waterman, whose right shoulder popped out after he was sandwiched in a final-quarter marking contest. Waterman had been a rare shining light for West Coast with three goals, but his season could be over if he requires surgery. The 27-year-old was immediately in pain and had to go to the bench to have his shoulder put back in place. He was seen with his arm in a sling after the match. Jake Waterman has left the field following this incident.#AFLCrowsEagles — AFL (@AFL) May 25, 2025 The Crows were error-riddled early against the Eagles, but once they hit their straps they were simply unstoppable. Reilly O'Brien (45 hitouts) was the dominant figure in the ruck, while Izak Rankine (23 disposals, six clearances, one goal) was a creative spark. Rachele hadn't kicked five goals since his debut in 2022, and he was lapping up his efforts on Sunday. "It's been a while - 64 games later. It's good to get another bag," Rachele told Fox Sports. West Coast were breathing a huge sigh of relief when veteran Adelaide spearhead Taylor Walker was ruled out an hour before the first bounce. Walker kicked bags of 10 and nine goals against West Coast in 2023, but the Crows decided it was time to rest the 35-year-old. Adelaide kicked four goals to three with the aid of the breeze in the first quarter, with West Coast's intense pressure hard to shake. West Coast won the territory battle in the second quarter, but it was Adelaide's efficiency up forward that proved the difference. The Crows' lead extended to 23 points late in the quarter when Riley Thilthorpe kicked his second goal of the match. But when Waterman nailed Josh Worrell with a brutal holding-the-ball tackle and then converted his 48m set shot after the half-time siren, the margin was back to a more manageable 17 points. However, the third quarter became an avalanche of goals as Adelaide finally clicked into gear. The Crows kicked 7.7 from 23 inside 50s - including two goals in the space of a minute from Rachele - as the margin swelled to 57 points by the final change.
Perth Now
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Waterman injured as Crows third-term ambush torches Eagles
A shoulder injury to star forward Jake Waterman has rubbed salt into Waalitj Marawar's (West Coast's) wounds in a heavy 66-point defeat to Kuwarna (Adelaide) at Adelaide Oval on Sunday. Waterman had been one of the Eagles' best with three goals but the All-Australian forward was taken from the field holding his right shoulder after finding himself in the middle of a massive collision early in the final quarter. It came after the Eagles were ambushed by a ruthless Crows in the third term, the home side kicking seven goals to one to shake off the brave visitors and secure a 19.14 (128) to 8.14 (62) victory. The Eagles went into the game having lost their past eight games at the iconic South Australian venue, including a 99-point defeat 264 days prior. For more than a half of footy, Andrew McQualter's men gave the Crows a fight but ultimately the home side were able to make the scoreboard reflect the gap in class between the two outfits. Crows captain Jordan Dawson lifted his game in the third term when Kuwarna put the Eagles to the sword, finishing with 27 disposals, eight clearances, two goals and 11 inside 50s. Sam Berry relished his rare exposure to full midfield minutes with 26 disposals, four clearances and a goal, while prized recruit James Peatling (16 disposals and two goals) glided across the ground in an eye-catching performance. West Coast's day was epitomised by defender Reuben Ginbey who was incredibly brave – including taking an amazing mark back with the flight – but butchered the footy when given the chance. Waalitj Marawar star Jake Waterman seriously injured his shoulder in the fourth quarter of the loss to Kuwarna. Credit: James Elsby/AFL Photos / AFL Photos via Getty Images Their veterans who had been so staunch in the past fortnight looked tired as the toll of a gruelling season begins to take its toll already. The Eagles' undersized defence would've breathed a sigh of relief when the Crows withdrew former skipper Taylor Walker before the bounce. And then the reality of the monumental task ahead of them would've set in when Riley Thilthorpe (two goals) out-positioned two Eagles defenders to kick the first goal. Skill errors plagued the Eagles early at both ends of the ground as simple missed kicks left them exposed on the turnover and cost them early scoring opportunities. Oscar Allen (two goals) would've been the most frustrated man in South Australia, with the Eagles' co-captain beating his opponent on several occasions only for his teammates to be unable to find him on the lead. Promisingly, the visitors didn't let the mistakes discourage them and they maintained their strong pressure to create turnovers the other way and hit the scoreboard. They could've been in front had they been cleaner going forward, with the Crows taking an incredible nine intercept marks in the first term alone. And they didn't fix the issues at quarter time. Waalitj Marawar went from competitive to on top through the middle of the ground and it allowed them to dominate the territory battle. While they had 18 inside 50s for the term, for much of the quarter it looked as if their only goal would come courtesy of a lucky bounce from Tyler Brockman, who was trying to find Allen but overcooked the kick. At the other end Adelaide were efficient with their limited opportunities and held a 23-point lead when Thilthorpe kicked his second late in the term. Waterman kept the Eagles within touch when he converted a long-range set shot after the half-time siren, but they could've been a lot closer had their midfield-forward connection been better. The Crows was finally able to break the game open late in the third term, kicking five unanswered goals in a 13-minute ambush to blow the 17-point half-time lead out to 57 points at the last break. Waterman's unfortunate injury seemed to suck the life out of the contest as Josh closed the door on a miracle comeback when he ran into an unguarded goalsquare to kick his fourth of his five majors. Within 30 seconds the Eagles' day may have got worse with premiership defender Tom Cole limping from the ground with a potential ankle injury. Recruit Liam Baker may face scrutiny from the match review officer after pushing his elbow into the back of Peatling's head after giving away a free kick. Waalitj Marawar's Jayden Hunt is tackled by Crows monster Riley Thilthorpe. Credit: Mark Brake / Getty Images KUWARNA 4.2, 8.5, 15.12, 19.14 (128) WAALITJ MARAWAR 3.2, 5.6, 6.9, 8.14 (62) Goals – KUWARNA: A Rachele 5 J Dawson 2 J Peatling 2 L Pedlar 2 R Thilthorpe 2 S Berry D Fogarty B Keays A Neal-Bullen R O'Brien I Rankine. WAALITJ MARAWAR: J Waterman 3 O Allen 2 T Brockman B Hough H Reid. Best – KUWARNA: J Dawson S Berry R Thilthorpe J Rachele J Peatling I Rankine. WAALITJ MARAWAR: R Ginbey J Waterman J Graham T Brockman S Brock H Reid. Injuries – KUWARNA: T Walker (managed) replaced in the selected side by S Draper. WAALITJ MARAWAR: T Cole (ankle) J Waterman (shoulder). Umpires: L Haussen C Deboy A Adair N McGinness. Crowd: 39,271 at Adelaide Oval.
