Vin Waite

Career : 1966 - 1975
Debut : Round 5, 1966 vs Melbourne, aged 17 years, 83 days
Carlton Player No. 783
Games : 153
Goals : 33
Last Game: Semi Final, 1975 vs Richmond, aged 26 years, 198 days
Guernsey No. 30
Height : 191 cm (6 ft. 3 in.)
Weight : 96 kg (15 stone, 2 lbs.)
DOB : 26 February, 1949
Premiership Player 1970, 1972
Victorian Representative 1971

Vincent “Vinny” Waite was a tough, reliable and popular defender for the Blues in a fine career between 1966 and 1975. Four of his 153 games were Grand Finals – and two of those were legendary Carlton victories. He played his first game as a raw-boned 17 year-old in 1966, and tragically, died of a heart attack in 2003. Although he was taken from us far too soon, Vin’s legacy lived on at Princes Park in the person of his son Jarrad, who wore the same navy blue guernsey number 30 as his dad in 184 games between 2003 and 2014.

Vin was recruited from Latrobe Valley club Morwell, at the insistence of former Carlton captain Graham Donaldson, who played a big role in recruiting for the Blues in the Gippsland region at that time. Donaldson liked what he saw in the tall, well-built youngster with a raking left foot, and thought he might develop into a handy ruckman.

Blues captain-coach Ron Barassi agreed, but decided not to waste time. He thrust Vin into the big time almost straight away, and the 17 year-old was selected for his first senior game against Melbourne in round 5, 1966. Playing out of a forward pocket, Waite took some good marks, and booted goals with his first two kicks as the young Blues destroyed the Demons by 47 points.

Although his debut season was cut short by a damaged spleen, and he averaged only six matches in each of his first three seasons, Vin hit his straps in 1969 to claim a regular place in a strong Carlton defensive unit, usually in a back pocket. Not particularly quick, but a safe mark and a penetrating kick, he ran hard and straight at the ball, regardless of who was in the way. And when he got it, he generally used it well.

Waite played in his first Grand Final in 1969, when he, Wes Lofts and Barry Gill formed a formidable last line for the Blues. But even that trio of tough nuts couldn’t prevent Richmond from running out winners by 25 points. Just one year later however, the Blues were back at the MCG with another opportunity when they took on the hot flag favourites Collingwood in the 1970 Grand Final. Kevin Hall replaced Lofts at full-back, with Gill and Waite in the pockets.

Deep in trouble at half-time that day, Carlton coach Barassi famously rallied his troops with the order to “handball, handball, handball,” and his team stormed back from an impossible 44 points down at half-time to claim the most famous Premiership victory of them all. The Magpies were shattered for a decade, while Vin and every one of his team-mates were instant heroes.

Waite continued playing good football in season 1971, and though Carlton failed to make the finals, his career stepped up another notch when he was selected in the Victorian state team that comfortably beat South Australia in front of a big crowd at the MCG.

In many respects, Carlton’s 1972 Flag win over Richmond ranks with the 1970 triumph. Again it was a victory against the odds, achieved by sheer guts against a more highly favoured opponent. Carlton went into that match as a rank underdog, bruised after three successive cut-throat semi-finals. By contrast, Richmond were at full strength, and coming off a week’s rest.

As part of a strategy of all-out attack devised by Carlton’s captain-coach John Nicholls and the match committee, Waite went to a half-back flank, Nicholls himself went to the goal-square and Peter “Percy” Jones was asked to carry the rucks. The ploy worked brilliantly, and Carlton won emphatically with a mammoth score of 177 points in the highest-scoring flag decider ever played. Even now, that record still stands. As usual against Richmond, there were plenty of rugged physical clashes, and Vin finished the match on the bench, nursing a broken jaw courtesy of the Tigers’ enforcer; ex Blue Ricky McLean.

Vinny’s fourth Grand Final in five years came in 1973. For a third time the opponent was Richmond, and the Tigers were hell-bent on revenge. This time it would be an old-style decider; a crash and bash survival of the fittest. Richmond ruckman Neil Balme led the Tiger assault, and by half time Carlton’s Nicholls, Geoff Southby and Hall were all concussed. Waite finished the game with a broken nose, and Carlton suffered a five-goal defeat.

That bitter day was somewhat mirrored in the remainder of Vin’s career. Early in 1974, persistant calf and lower back strains began to plague him. He soldiered on, as cheerfully and committed as always, but never quite regained consistent good form. He retired from league football after the ’75 season, and headed south to captain-coach Tasmanian club Latrobe for the 1976 season, he signed a four year contract with Latrobe. Waite had to sit out the first four games of the season due to a suspension in his last game in the Navy Blue. Mid year in his fourth and final year of his contract, he controversially crossed to East Devonport for four seasons, before returning to the LaTrobe Valley to finish off as playing coach of Churchill at the age of 36.

Afterward, Vin was a regular at Carlton’s Premiership team reunions, as popular as always because he never lost the affable good nature that Blues fans loved in his heyday. He thrived on reminding his team-mates (especially the forwards) of how he goaled with his first two kicks on debut against Melbourne, and it was said that he could describe the circumstances of every one of his 33 career goals.

In 2001, when Vin’s son Jarrad was signed by Carlton as a third round, father-son selection in the National Draft, Vin was understandably the proudest dad in the country. Even more so, when Jarrad played his first game for the Blues in 2003, wearing his dad’s old number.

But only a few months later, in July 2003, the Carlton Football Club and indeed, the entire football community was stunned by the news that Vin Waite had suffered a sudden heart attack and died at the age of just 54. Tributes poured into Princes Park for many days after the news broke; testament to the respect and genuine affection felt for a good bloke who played his footy hard, yet was always keen for a beer and a laugh afterward.

On the following weekend, as a tribute to his father, Jarrad insisted on taking his place in the Carlton side to play Melbourne in the round 14 match at Princes Park. Those at the game will always remember the third quarter, when Jarrad streamed down the ground and kicked a classic running goal. The huge roar from the crowd that followed – and which almost lifted the roof off the Social Club - was as much for Vin as it was for Jarrad.

Career Highlights

1968 - 2nd Reserves Best & Fairest
1970 - Perc Bentley Trophy: 3rd Best & Fairest
1970 - Premiership Player
1971 - 9th Best & Fairest
1971 - President's Trophy: Best Clubman Award
1971 - Victorian Representative
1972 - Equal 10th Best & Fairest
1972 - Premiership Player

Milestones

100 Games : Round 18, 1972 vs Melbourne
150 Games : Round 21, 1975 vs Fitzroy

Video

Links

Blueseum: A stat summary of the playing career of Vin Waite

Gallery

1975 - Vin Waite (Scanlen's Footy Card).
1973 - Vin Waite (Scanlen's Footy Card).
1976 - Vin Waite (Scanlen's Footy Card).
1974 - Vin Waite (Scanlen's Footy Card).
Vin Waite Mark 1970 G/FVin Waite taking a 2 step mark. A great vertical leap.
Vin waite clr
1982 Vin Waite retires (26/08/82)
1975 - Vin Waite's 150th game.
1974 Rd 4 - Vin Waite marks.
1985 - Vin Waite bows out (10/08/85).
1985 - Vin Waites playing days are over (22/08/85).
1973 GF - Southby & Waite spoil the pack.
1970 - Vin Waite.
1970 Rd 10 - Vin Waite plays 50th game.
1971 - Big V Defender Vin Waite chases footy.Pic: Football Life.
1971 Rd 11 - Vin Waite.Pic: Football Life.
1973 - Ask the Stars; Vin Waite.Football Life.
1974 Rd 14 - Vin Waite & Mark Maclure sandwich Arnie Briedis.Pic: Football Life.
1974 Rd 16 - Vin Waite.Pic: Football Life.
1974 Rd 16 - Umps talk to Percy Jones whilst Armstrong & Waite watch.Pic: Football Life.
1969 GF - Vin Waite & Kevin Hall sandwich Eric Moore.
1969 GF - Hall & Waite after colliding with Moore.
1975 Qual. Final - Vin Waite being checked out.
1972 GF - Vin Waite being stretchered off the ground.Source: Melbourne Observer.
1972 GF - Vin Waite on crutches after the GF.Source: Melbourne Observer.
1972 GF - Vin Waite being stretchered off the ground.Source: The Herald.
1972 GF - Vin Waite pressures Barry Richardson.
1972 Rd 2 - Vin Waite puts a hit on Wearmouth.
1972 Rd 11 - Vin Waite spoils Barry Round.The Australian.
1972 Rd 14 - Vin Waite takes a juggling mark.Inside Football.
1972 Rd 17 - Waite & Crosswell 'blue' with each other.The Australian.
1972 - Vin Waite and 'his' MCG.
1972 2nd Semi Replay - Vin Waite flies over Ricky McLean.
1972 Prelim. Final - An injured Vin Waite is helped from the ground.The Australian.
1972 GF - Vin Waite being stretchered off the ground.
1973 Rd 3 - Vin Waite.Pic: Inside Football.
1973 - Vin Waite cartoon (23/06/73).Inside Football.
1973 Rd 9 - An innocent looking Vin Waite.Pic: Inside Football.
1971 Rd 6 - Waite & Mulcair in pursuit of the footy.
1974 Rd 18 - David Parkin knocked out cold by Vin Waite (page 2 of 2).Pic: The Sun.
1974 Rd 18 - David Parkin knocked out cold by Vin Waite (page 1 of 2).Pic: The Sun.
1993 - Vin Waite Article (23/04/93) page 2 of 2.Pic: Football Record.
1993 - Vin Waite Article (23/04/93) page 1 of 2.Pic: Football Record.
1973 GF - Vin Waite.Pic: Inside Football.
1970 GF - Vin Waite flies to spoil.
Vin Waite.
Vin Waite.
1972 Drawn 2nd Semi - McKay spills mark with Waite in support.
1972 2nd Semi Replay Footy Record - Southby marks in front of Balme & Waite.
Vin Waite Shoots Out A Handball
2003 - Vale Vin Waite (09/07/03).
2003 - Vale Vinny (9/7/03).
1975 - Walls & Waite at Latrobe Footy Club.
1977-78 - Latrobe Capt. & Coach: Vin Waite.
1972 GF Vin Waite Leaves The Field Injured At Half Time
Oh The Joy Vin Waite With The 1970 Premiership Cup
1972 GF Vin Waite Stretchered Off At Half Time
1970 GF Vin Waite Pressures Magpie Des TuddenhamPic: Melbourne Herald
1973 SF Vin Waite Spoils Two MagpiesEdited image- originally submitted by Bombasheldon.
Vin Waite in caricature 1972.jpgEdited image - originally submitted by dgreen2.
Vin Waite Repels Richmond.Carlton versus Richmond. Players are (left to right); Brent Crosswell (Carlton), Vin Waite (Carlton), Neil Balme (Richmond), Kevin Sheedy (Richmond). Edited image - originally submitted by anthonydebolfo.
1970 GF - Vin Waite spoils the pack.
A laid out Vin Waite.
1970 GF - Vin Waite.
1970 GF - Vin Waite spoils the pack.
1971 Rd 22 - Vin Waite spoils Peter McKenna.
1970 Rd 1 - Lofts & Waite in dispute with the umpire.
1973 GF - Vin Waite.
1970 Rd 8 - Vin Waite and Barry Gill.
Vin Waite & Barry Mulcair in action against the Pies.
1970 Grand Final - An ecstatic Vin Waite after the game.
1973 Grand Final - Vin Waite and Phil Pinnell.
1970 Rd 8 Vin Waite flies to spoil with Wes Lofts in support
1972 Rd 17 - Brent Crosswell & Vin Waite clash.
Vin Waite crashes the pack - 1970 Grand Final
1970 2nd Semi – Jones flies with Goold & Waite in support
1970 Grand Final - Vin Waite & Richardson tussle flanked by Gill & McKay.
1972 RD 13 - Vin Waite drives the ball long.
1976 - Former Blues TAS Rep.'s; G. Lethborg & V. Waite.
1970 - Vin Waite.
1966 - Permits for Blues Recruits (The Age 20th April).
1973 Grand Final - Vin Waite grapples with the goal post.
1979 Tasmanian Rep. Ex Blue Vin Waite.
1979 Tasmanian Rep. Ex Blue Vin Waite