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“A very narrow view”: Weitering responds to criticism of Carlton's fadeouts
Jaiden Sciberras • April 3rd, 2025 9:19 am
It comes as no surprise that Carlton is under fire following a poor start to the 2025 season.
Winless through three after holding strong leads in each of their matches, the Blues have struggled to provide fans with any hope, particularly referencing the immense heights of general expectations.
While the club has failed to perform, a handful of top-end players can hold their heads high, continuing to stand out amongst an underperforming side as they have done for a number of years.
One of those is Jacob Weitering, who has soldiered through the 0-3 start with poise as Carlton’s ever-reliable deepest defensive line.
Weitering shares matching emotions with the ever-expectant Blues faithful, while remaining optimistic that the club under coach Michael Voss can turn their fortunes around.
“(We are) disappointed, of course,” he said on SEN’s Whateley.
“Looking back at our years under ‘Vossy’, we’ve either started really well or we’ve started quite poorly.
“The years that we started quite poorly we weren’t playing the way that we wanted to play. Scores were getting put on us, 100 points were getting scored against us quite regularly, we weren’t playing defence the way we wanted to, we weren’t playing contest, and I guess that combo stat of tackle and ground ball.
“To take a positive out of the last three weeks, probably other than Round 1 - being seven goals up I don’t think you should ever lose from that position - we are taking great confidence that our system and our game plan is holding up.”
Carlton’s first half performances have remained consistently strong, taking a lead into half-time in each of their three games while tallying 137 first half points at +48.
It is the second half that causes trouble for the Blues, with a tally of -89 (67 points for, 156 points against) after half-time.
There have been critics regarding the fadeouts but Weitering was quick to leap to his side's defence.
“Unfortunately, it’s the back half of games and it’s the execution,” Weitering continued.
“I’ve heard the conversation about the ability to run out games, and I think that’s a very narrow view.
“You look at the stats of clearance, inside 50s, even our defence behind the ball, it’s actually in a really good place.
“At the moment it’s just our execution on all parts of the ground. We’ve been reviewing it quite hard, and we just haven’t got the result yet.
“It’s amazing, four kicks the other way and you might be 2-1 or 3-0, so it’s a hard one but we have an amazing opportunity this week against Collingwood to change that.”
Weitering, Voss and the Blues have plenty to prove this Thursday night when they meet arch enemy Collingwood at the MCG to kick off Round 4.
The challenge is undeniable especially considering the 2-1 Pies have outscored their last two opponents - Port Adelaide and the Bulldogs - in the second half.
For all of your parochial Blues needs, tune into Blues Radio - thanks to BUPA - with Andy Maher, Sam Edmund and Carlton legends Anthony Koutoufides and Ang Christou. Available via the SEN app - at the 'G on SEN Stadium or at home on SEN Sync.
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