The Blues’ young playing list was faced with a number of challenges in 2018 and as a result, finished the year with fewer wins than previous seasons.

However, the valuable experience gained by first and second-year players, coupled with the resilience built within the team, will no doubt hold the Club in good stead for years to come.

With the side now on a break, we’re analysing each player’s year in statistics. Here’s the review for Carlton’s No. 23, Jacob Weitering. 

GAMES
Season 2018: 14
Career: 56

GOALS
Season 2018: 1
Career: 10

KEY AFL STATISTICS (averages in brackets):
Disposals: 189 (13.50) Rebound 50s: 276 (1.50) Contested possessions: 55 (3.93) One-percenters: 69 (4.93) Tackles: 22 (1.57)

OVERVIEW
Taken with the Blues’ No. 1 pick in the 2015 national draft, Jacob Weitering appeared in 14 games during his third AFL season at Carlton.

In Round 14 against archrival Collingwood at the MCG, Weitering recorded his 50th AFL match and collected a game-high 11 one-percenters.

Running out for the first four games of the year against Richmond, Gold Coast, Collingwood and North Melbourne, the 20-year-old missed the next six matches due to a thigh injury and subsequently made his way back through the Northern Blues.

As one of 16 players to rotate through Carlton’s back line this season, the young defender averaged a career-high 4.93 one-percenters per game and nearly four contested possessions.

BEST PERFORMANCE
In Round 18 against Hawthorn, Weitering collected 23 disposals including seven contested possessions and four one-percenters.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT
Travelling to the Gold Coast in Round 19, Weitering played a key role in Carlton’s backline. In the dying stages of the match, his courage to go back with the flight of the ball to make a spoil was praised by senior coach Brendon Bolton.