IN-FORM North Melbourne forward Jarrad Waite – the man Brad Scott said in February had his best football in front of him – could yet play beyond this season.
Waite, who turned 35 in the same month his coach made that bold prediction, has made those who doubted Scott look silly with an excellent campaign to date.
He is averaging 15.7 disposals, 1.7 contested marks, 3.3 inside 50s and 2.2 goals from four scoring shots in his six games in 2018.
Waite continues to win more than 50 per cent of his possessions in the midfield, an indicator he's lost none of his aerobic ability and will easily adapt to having Mason Wood in the team.
Wood, 24, was the Kangaroos' hero with four goals, including the match-winner, against Sydney in his first game for the year, with Waite watching from his couch on a scheduled rest.
"Maybe Mason's taken my spot," Waite joked to reporters at St Kilda's Catani Gardens on Tuesday.
"But we've obviously played a bit of footy together, Mase, 'Browney' (Ben Brown) and I, and Jack (Ziebell)'s obviously down there as well.
"I'll maybe sneak up to that wing, but there are many players who can play that role.
"We've had so much variety in positions (this year) … which probably for the last couple of years we probably haven't had."
Waite played down any mentoring role he has had with Wood, who Scott made earn his AFL spot through an extended VFL run in an attempt to make him a more rounded player.
The former Blue's leadership qualities were part of the reason North list chiefs offered him another contract for this season.
"You always want to play footy for as long as you can and I've felt last year my form was good enough and I felt like I could contribute this year," Waite said.
"If I didn't think that was going to be the case, I would have retired at the end of last year … and obviously the form helps, the way the team's going definitely helps, so it justifies it.
"I'm just taking it as it comes and if I feel like I've potentially got a lot to give to the club then I'll want to play on, but I know I'm 35, 36 next year.
"I know the window's closing pretty rapidly, so I'm just treating every game on its merits and trying to perform the best I can."
Waite played only 30 matches because of injury and suspension across the past three seasons, after appearing in 23 in his first year in blue and white in 2015.
But he was confident his management plan for this season would ensure he significantly adds to his 237 matches.
"When I first came here I wasn't sure how many games I'd play, but I'm really happy with the way the club's managed me and the way we go with our injury-prevention stuff," Waite said.
"I've always had great confidence in my body and before 2009 I wasn't too injury prone, but since then it hasn't been a great run – but that's all behind me now.
"We've played some really good footy this year and a lot of teams have underestimated us, but we've got a big challenge against Richmond this week.
"They gave us a bit of a touch up in (the) JLT (Community Series), so it's going to be a really hard challenge for the boys, but I know everyone's looking forward to it."
