“A LOT of it is controllable.”

While there was a palpable sense of relief when Carlton emerged with its fourth victory from five games on Sunday, discussion inevitably turned to the discrepancy between the Blues’ first and second-half performances.

Put simply, the home side was awesome in the first half. Not for the first time this season, Carlton’s pressure football overwhelmed the opposition, kicking out to what proved to be an unassailable lead before half time — but only just. 

Speaking on SEN, Jacob Weitering - who was stand-in skipper on the weekend - said the review in the days after the game proved exactly what the Blues thought immediately after the game.

“It’s doing the basics — I know it’s a cliche answer,” Weitering said.

“We looked at it, and there wasn’t anything we didn’t know.

“They scored a lot from ‘in-out-ins’, where we’ve intercepted the ball, sent it out of our defensive 50, but it came back in and they scored. It was as simple as getting back up onto your man when the ball is transitioning, or stoppage resets.”

Challenging his teammates to ensure it didn’t become a pattern of behaviour, Weitering - a co-vice captain in 2022 - said it started with the team’s senior heads.

“We won’t let it, but being 0-5 in third quarters can get in your psyche a little bit — we can’t let that happen,” he said.

“As leaders - myself, ‘Walshy’ and ‘Crippa’ - we’ve got to drive that. Also, the guys that have been playing good football like George or Harry and Charlie up forward: they’ve got to do the same.

“We’ve got to bring more guys along and be more consistent.”

The star defender - who had never been 1-0 to start a season, let alone 4-1 - said it was important not to lose sight of the positives.

While the Blues are yet to put together a complete performance as yet, he reiterated AFL Senior Coach Michael Voss’ sentiments about the benefit of learning with four points in the pocket.

“Our first halves are great. We’re playing with intensity,” he saiid.

“We’re bringing the source pressure in the contest. The boys in the middle are doing a super job, even with ‘Crippa’ out on the weekend - that can’t go unnoticed.

“Harry and Charlie have kicked 26 goals between them to start the year which is also a massive positive.

“We’re enjoying our football, we’re loving winning games and we get to sing the song after it. No doubt we’re enjoying it, but we understand it’s a small portion of the season.”