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Brett Ratten and Jarrad Waite speak to the media ahead of the match against Sydney
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CFC TV brings you highlights of Jarrad Waites career to celebrate his 100 game
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JARRAD Waite will join his late father Vin in Carlton’s 100-game club against the Sydney Swans on Sunday, and the 25-year-old is understandably proud of the achievement.

“It’s just a great honour to play 100 games, especially at Carlton,” Waite says.

“I wasn’t sure if I’d ever get to 100 games, but I’ve enjoyed my time here very much. It’s just one of those things I’ll look back on when I’m older and really appreciate.”

Waite becomes the 152nd Blues player to reach the mark which, coincidentally, will come against the same club against which he made his debut in round one, 2003 at Stadium Australia.

Few players have had to do it as tough as Waite, whose arrival at the club as a third-round pick in the 2001 NAB AFL Draft coincided with sanctions for breaking the salary cap that would consign Carlton to the wrong end of the ladder for the next six years.

“It hasn’t been the best [timing] because I’ve probably come at the worst time in 2001, when all that stuff happened,” he says.

“So it has been difficult, but I think that makes you work harder and look forward to the times that are coming up ahead. It probably makes you a bit more excited that the team is going better and all the boys are gelling together.

“Obviously it does [get you down sometimes], but you just have to re-focus and it sort of makes you a stronger person out on the ground. It’s been a good test for the boys that have been here over that time.

“A lot of players have come and gone – a lot of good players. It's funny, when I’m at home I look back at some of the photos that are on Mum’s wall and there are only about five guys left, which is a bit daunting. But it’s good that I’ve made it so far and I want to continue that over the next few years.”

At 194cm, Waite, can play at either end of the ground, with his silky skills and ability to pull off the spectacular often leading Blues’ supporters to wish he had an identical twin.

For his part, Waite is enjoying the challenge of playing in defence.

“I enjoy playing down back. It’s been a good role for me this year – you’re playing on the best players and you have to learn very quickly,” he says.

“When you’re playing on the best players like Nick Riewoldt and Jonathan Brown, if you come out of a game and you haven’t learned anything, you’re not concentrating enough.

“If you can learn something each time you go out and play it makes you a better player and that’s pretty much what I try and become each game.”

Waite has featured in the Australian International Rules side and the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute match in the latter stages of his career and he maintains the exposure to the competition’s elite has been a huge benefit to his game.

Coach Brett Ratten believes Waite has the ability to become a regular in such representative sides.

“That’s the next step for Jarrad. He’s pretty close to breaking into the top 20 players in the AFL, and his consistency has really improved,” Ratten said.

“Sometimes it’s that belief factor – can you do it? I can see that Jarrad is really believing in his ability, he’s confident, and when he’s on, he’s fantastic to watch.

“It’s great to see him grow as a man, not just as a football player. He was a young man when I first got here, but now he’s really growing up and taking that next stage of leadership around the club.”