Jarrad Waite is creating a formidable resume in finals. All that’s missing though is a flag.
The Age reports since 2011, only Lance Franklin has had greater "scoreboard impact" in finals than the North key forward.
“From a small sample of five finals, Waite is building an impressive record on football's biggest stage,” Peter Hanlon writes.
The statistic is calculated using a combination of raw scores, accuracy, shots at goal and assists.
While Waite’s conversion over his five finals appearances is 74 per cent, it’s the work he’s putting in without the ball that’s made him so dangerous according to Kangaroos’ assistant coach Shane Watson.
"When he's played well in the past, from the outside looking in, it tended to be his marks and his goals," Watson said.
"In terms of this year, he's added that extra layer that if he isn't impacting by his marks or on the scoreboards, he's had some games where he's had high tackles, high pressure indicators.
"He's found a way when things aren't working for him to keep himself in the game."
Waite booted four goals against Richmond followed by three against Sydney and is set to play 23 games in a season for the first time – his consistency, fitness and discipline all key factors.
"One, he's been able to keep his body together. And two, I haven't noticed any real undisciplined things that he may have done in the past," Watson said.
"It is pretty simple, he's working hard and getting results – working hard when we've got it, but particularly in the second half of the year he's worked hard when the opposition have got it as well. I reckon he's just playing a more well-rounded game."