RETIRING Kangaroos forward Jarrad Waite believes he has been able to banish the 'enigma' tag thrust his way early in his career during his time at North Melbourne.
The former Blue told his teammates and club staff of his decision to retire on Tuesday, having met with Roos coach Brad Scott last week to discuss his future.
Waite played 184 games for the Blues and kicked 252 goals with Carlton before joining North Melbourne as a free agent at the end of the 2014 season.
He helped the club to a preliminary final the following year when he kicked 42 goals in 23 games, and has played 59 games with the club over four seasons.
Waite said it was important to him to leave the game while still playing well.
"If I had have left at 31 I would've probably been bitter and twisted with the way it ended at Carlton. But now I can hold my head up high and know I've proven I am a good player and I'm not this enigma everyone speaks about," Waite said on Tuesday afternoon.
"I play consistent football, and looking back on my career that's one of the proudest things I've been able to achieve."
Waite, 35, said he would have been tempted to play on next year if there was a contract on the table from North.
He has played just 12 games this season because of a lingering calf issue in the second half of the year but has booted 29 goals, including three last week against Adelaide in the Roos' loss.
"After sitting down last Tuesday with 'Scotty' and having a really good discussion about what my future's looking like, I've come to the right time for me to retire. I'm completely at ease with it now.
"I'm really proud of the way I've been able to fight out these 17 years in the system. It hasn't been the easiest of careers, obviously I was at Carlton when we weren't going too well, then the massive decision to leave there and come here.
"I know in my heart of hearts this is the right time for me to hang the boots up."
Scott said the pair went into the meeting with the intentions of talking about playing on in 2019, but that the right decision has been made.
Waite was drafted to the Blues in 2001 with pick 46, joining the club for which his father Vin played 153 games.
He has had injury issues and also had a run of suspensions throughout his time at Carlton, but Waite said he had shed the view he had been inconsistent.
"I always thought I've played pretty consistent football. I can't really do much more than what I have. Obviously there was a few issues when I was younger, but there was other things going on behind [the scenes]," he said.
"[It's] a stigma that's hung around for a long time and I've worked really hard to try to break that. I think I have.
"I'm 100 per cent at ease at walking away."
Waite nominated North's elimination final win over Richmond in 2016, and Carlton's elimination final victory over the Tigers in 2013 as his career highlights.
"I don't really like Richmond, and never have. I think it relates from Dad and the Carlton days. We hate them here, too," he said.
