On the eve of his 244th game, Jarrad Waite has announced his retirement.

The 35-year-old advised North teammates and staff on Tuesday afternoon, that Sunday’s outing against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium will be his last.

Waite’s AFL journey began in 2001 when he was drafted by Carlton with pick 46; a club his late father Vin played 153 games for, and won two premierships with, in 1970 and 1972. 

Fittingly, Waite adopted his father’s famous number 30 guernsey and went on to play 184 games for the Blues, after making his debut in 2003.

Waite booted 252 goals in 12 seasons for Carlton but at the end of 2014, he exercised his rights to explore free agency, and eventually chose to sign with North Melbourne.

In 2015, aged 32, he joined forces with the likes of Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Michael Firrito, Nick Dal Santo, Scott Thompson, Shaun Higgins, Jack Ziebell and Andrew Swallow, to help lead the Kangaroos to a preliminary final. 

That year Waite achieved a career season-high for games played with 23, and goals with 42.

Waite has played 59 games in the royal blue and white stripes and has kicked 122 goals, at an average of more than two a game.

Waite has played 16 seasons of AFL.