When Wakelin was six months old his family moved to Kimba, South Australia where his father farmed sheep.
He became noted as a hard-working defender at St Kilda and, during the mid to late 1990s, was part of a defensive combination with his twin brother Darryl which was considered very effective.
[1] After playing only four games in 2000 he became disgruntled with St Kilda and was later picked up by Collingwood Football Club, where he reignited his career and continued his trademark consistency as a defender.
In 2003 Wakelin appeared on a shampoo commercial for Sunsilk Base Elements, which also featured fellow Collingwood players Brodie Holland and Richard Cole.
[3] Wakelin married Ligita in 2003 and they now have two children – daughter Charley Elizabeth, and son Tom Leo.