Former Essendon forward returns to old club for 2024

The ex-Bomber booted 27 goals from 22 games in the red sash.

Ex-Essendon forward Alec Waterman has returned to his old side Claremont 12 months on from his Dons departure.

Waterman spent two seasons at Tullamarine after being recruited to the Bombers as a Supplemental Selection Period acquisition from the Tigers ahead of the 2021 season.

The mature-aged recruit’s return to the top flight came after a 26-goal season for Claremont, leading the WAFL goalkicking and helping his side reach the grand final in a shortened 2020 season.

Waterman had been listed with West Coast for three years but was delisted by the club at the end of 2016 after failing to break into the senior side.

His AFL debut would come in the red and black five years later with Essendon as Waterman broke into the Bombers’ team after impressing the club during his pre-season stint in the red sash.

Waterman would play 14 games under former Essendon coach Ben Rutten in his maiden year with the Dons, including an appearance in the club’s elimination final against the Western Bulldogs.

He would play a further eight games for Essendon last year before not being offered a new deal for this year, managing 27 goals for the Bombers across his two-year stint.

Waterman returned to Western Australia to play for West Coast’s reserves in 2023 and would manage five games in a winless campaign for the Eagles.

Three years from his last season with Claremont, Waterman will now return to the Tigers for next season after signing with the club this week.