Beau Waters

Waters grew up in Happy Valley, South Australia, playing for the Happy Valley Football Club in the Southern Football League. He was a member of the 2002 AIS/AFL program intake.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/11/23/1069027397819.html|title=Who your team picked|date=23 November 2003}} He made his senior debut in the SANFL for West Adelaide at the age of 17 in 2003, and was also named in the 2003 Under-18 All-Australian team.

Waters was recruited as the Eagles' first-round draft pick in the 2003 National Draft with pick 11. Eagles recruiting manager Trevor Woodhouse described him as ready to immediately step into the Eagles' team: "Beau Waters, we rate him pretty high, he's a skilled left-footer. We're looking for him to step into the fore reasonably quickly, but there's no pressure on him to play next year."{{Cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/11/23/1069027397819.html|title=Who your team picked|date=23 November 2003}}

He made his debut for the Eagles against {{AFL Ess}} at the Telstra Dome in Round 3 of the 2004 AFL season, gathering ten possessions and four marks in a game the Eagles lost by six points.{{Cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/2004/051820040410.html|title = AFL Tables - Essendon v West Coast - Sat, 10-Apr-2004 7:10 PM - Match Stats}} He played nine more games in his debut season, gathering 25 possessions and eight marks as the youngest player in an Eagles win against the {{AFL WB}} in Round 18.{{Cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/2004/071820040801.html|title = AFL Tables - West Coast v Western Bulldogs - Sun, 1-Aug-2004 2:10 PM (4:10 PM) - Match Stats}}

Waters did not play a game in the 2005 season after being ruled out with osteitis pubis. A week after he had recovered from the injury, he was hit by a taxi he was trying to flag down after a night out in Subiaco. Rushed to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, it was initially thought no damage had been done, but it was later revealed he had injured his lateral ligament, ruling him out for six weeks during the pre-season.{{cite web| url =http://www.thesoaring.com/2005/12/04/how-to-take-a-trick-with-beau-waters/| title = How to take a trick with Beau Waters| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110717031512/http://www.thesoaring.com/2005/12/04/how-to-take-a-trick-with-beau-waters/| archive-date = 17 July 2011}}

Waters returned to the side in 2006 as a key part of the squad, playing 23 matches throughout the season. He scored his first AFL goal in Round 3 against Richmond.{{Cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/2006/141820060415.html|title = AFL Tables - West Coast v Richmond - Sat, 15-Apr-2006 5:40 PM (7:40 PM) - Match Stats}} He gained his first Brownlow votes in Round 18 against St Kilda for a 34-possession game.{{Cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/2006/151820060804.html|title = AFL Tables - St Kilda v West Coast - Fri, 4-Aug-2006 7:40 PM - Match Stats}} Waters played in every one of the Eagles' finals matches. He gathered 26 possessions and took ten marks as the youngest member of the Eagles' premiership side in the Grand Final win over {{AFL Syd}}, in the process gaining a vote in the 2006 Norm Smith Medal.{{cite web| url = http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/2006%20premiership%20team/tabid/7290/default.aspx| title = Reference at www.westcoasteagles.com.au| access-date = 23 February 2011| archive-date = 16 May 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110516110838/http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/2006%20premiership%20team/tabid/7290/default.aspx| url-status = dead}} 2006 Premiership Team - WestCoastEagles.com.au{{cite web| url = http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/index.php/heraldsun/comments/did_andrew_embley_deserve_the_norm_smith_medal| title = Reference at blogs.news.com.au| access-date = 23 February 2011| archive-date = 6 July 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110706110619/http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/index.php/heraldsun/comments/did_andrew_embley_deserve_the_norm_smith_medal| url-status = dead}} Did Andrew Embley deserve the North Smith Medal? - Herald Sun Sport Blog

Waters played 20 games in 2007 and eight games in 2008 before suffering a season-ending elbow injury. He resumed full-training in May of 2009 but then re-injured the same elbow, ruling him out for the remainder of the 2009 season.{{Cite web |url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/73247/default.aspx |title=Season preview: West Coast - AFL.com.au |access-date=23 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706101510/http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/73247/default.aspx |archive-date=6 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web| url = http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/injury-list-ahead-of-round-20/story-e6frf9jf-1225757259312| title = Reference at www.heraldsun.com.au}} Waters was awarded the Chris Mainwaring Award for Best Clubman in 2009 for his work for the club while off injured.

Waters made a long-awaited return in the 2010 season, after one-and-a-half years out due to injury. He was one of the Eagles best players in a year where the club finished last, averaging 21 possessions and seven marks in a 20-game season. Waters also captained the club for a number of games after regular captain Darren Glass was ruled out for the season with a knee injury. Waters gathered two Brownlow votes for a 33-possession game in a loss against {{AFL Gee}} in Round 11, and finished third overall in the West Coast Eagles Best & Fairest.

Waters was named the Eagles sole vice-captain for the 2011 AFL season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/defender-darren-glass-retained-as-west-coast-eagles-captain-beau-waters-named-vice-captain/story-e6frf3e3-1225994941890|title = Motorsport Video |Motorsport Highlights, Replays, News, Clips}}

He retired in February 2015 due to ongoing injury.{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/west-coast-eagles-defender-beau-waters-retires-after-persistent-shoulder-problems/story-fni5faul-1227224591527|title=West Coast Eagles defender Beau Waters set to retire after persistent shoulder problems|first1=Braden|last1=Quartermaine|first2=Chris|last2=Robinson|date=19 February 2015|work=Herald Sun|publisher=News Corp Australia|access-date=28 October 2015}}

On 19 October 2020 he was awarded life membership of the West Coast Eagles

In 2014, Waters won the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award for his work for the Cancer Council Western Australia.{{cite web| url = http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-09-22/waters-earns-jim-stynes-award| title = Waters earns Jim Stynes Award}}

:{{cite web| url = http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/B/Beau_Waters.html| title = Beau Waters' player profile at AFL Tables}}

{{AFL player statistics legend}}

{{AFL player statistics start}}

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2004

|style="text-align:center;"|West Coast

| 22 || 10 || 0 || 3 || 81 || 57 || 138 || 46 || 17 || 0.0 || 0.3 || 8.1 || 5.7 || 13.8 || 4.6 || 1.7

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2005

|style="text-align:center;"|West Coast

| 8 || 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|- style="background:#eaeaea;"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2006

|style="text-align:center;"|West Coast

| 8 || 23 || 8 || 8 || 213 || 177 || 390 || 120 || 58 || 0.3 || 0.3 || 9.3 || 7.7 || 17.0 || 5.2 || 2.5

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2007

|style="text-align:center;"|West Coast

| 8 || 20 || 1 || 0 || 207 || 206 || 413 || 131 || 50 || 0.1 || 0.0 || 10.4 || 10.3 || 20.7 || 6.6 || 2.5

|- style="background:#eaeaea;"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2008

|style="text-align:center;"|West Coast

| 8 || 8 || 4 || 1 || 86 || 44 || 130 || 36 || 24 || 0.5 || 0.1 || 10.8 || 5.5 || 16.3 || 4.5 || 3.0

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2009

|style="text-align:center;"|West Coast

| 8 || 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|- style="background:#eaeaea;"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2010

|style="text-align:center;"|West Coast

| 8 || 21 || 4 || 5 || 259 || 182 || 441 || 146 || 69 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 12.3 || 8.7 || 21.0 || 7.0 || 3.3

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2011

|style="text-align:center;"|West Coast

| 8 || 11 || 0 || 0 || 129 || 69 || 198 || 53 || 34 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 11.7 || 6.3 || 18.0 || 4.8 || 3.1

|- style="background:#eaeaea;"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2012

|style="text-align:center;"|West Coast

| 8 || 20 || 8 || 4 || 279 || 143 || 422 || 146 || 48 || 0.4 || 0.2 || 14.0 || 7.2 || 21.1 || 7.3 || 2.4

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2013

|style="text-align:center;"|West Coast

| 8 || 7 || 0 || 0 || 104 || 39 || 143 || 50 || 19 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 14.9 || 5.6 || 20.4 || 7.1 || 2.7

|- style="background:#eaeaea;"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2014

|style="text-align:center;"|West Coast

| 8 || 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2015

|style="text-align:center;"|West Coast

| 8 || 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|- class="sortbottom"

! colspan=3| Career

! 120

! 25

! 21

! 1358

! 917

! 2275

! 728

! 319

! 0.2

! 0.2

! 11.3

! 7.6

! 19.0

! 6.1

! 2.7

|}

{{reflist}}

• {{AFL Tables}}
• {{AustralianFootball}}
• {{WAFL FootyFacts}}

{{2006 West Coast Eagles premiership players}}

{{Robert Rose award}}

{{2012 All-Australian team}}

{{2004 AFL Rising Star nominees}}

{{2003 AFL national draft}}

{{Southern Football League Greatest Exports Team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Waters, Beau}}

Category:1986 births

Category:Living people

Category:All-Australians (AFL)

Category:Australian rules footballers from South Australia

Category:Claremont Football Club players

Category:West Coast Eagles players

Category:West Coast Eagles premiership players

Category:West Adelaide Football Club players

Category:Happy Valley Football Club players

Category:VFL/AFL premiership players

Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen