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Lyon defends Carlton's Weitering after Hodge criticism
Harry Cumming • March 18th, 2026 4:33 pm
Four-time premiership defender Luke Hodge has criticised Carlton vice-captain Jacob Weitering’s leadership on the field.
The Hawthorn champion showed behind-the-goals vision from Carlton’s Opening Round loss to Sydney where first-gamer Harry Dean twice flew the flag for his teammates, while Weitering opted not to.
“There was no leadership,” Hodge said on Channel 7’s Agenda Setters.
“He went in there to do his own job, and anything outside of that was non-existent.
“(Harry) Dean's excited to play his first game. He's rushing in there to look after Cripps.”
But Weitering was uninterested in the scuffle and had already turned his back to take his position in the square at full-back.
It left Hodge largely unimpressed.
“You’ve got to go out there and show some passion, be physical, be a part of it, show your teammates that you're willing to stand up for the fight, because at the moment it's round one and we're not seeing it.”
Hodge’s comments sparked a discussion between Garry Lyon and Tim Watson on SEN Breakfast.
“I love it from Hodgey because it encapsulates who he is and what he is and what he would do,” Lyon said.
“We're not all cut from the same cloth as that, and Harry Dean, in his first game, has shown that he's cut from a different cloth to Jacob (Weitering).”
Lyon believes that there’s much more to leadership than just being a tough competitor and that the 2024 All-Australian defender Weitering has proven his credentials through his footy.
“Jacob shows his commitment to the club and the flying of the flag by backing into holes, by taking the most dangerous forward… and doing it week in and week out,” Lyon added.
“For some people, that's not their natural go to be the antagonist.”
The Blues have the bye this week before facing Melbourne next Sunday at 3:15pm at the MCG, where Weitering will likely line up against in-form Jacob van Rooyen or former Pie Brody Mihocek.
