QUIETLY going about his business.

Carlton added to its backline experience during the off-season with the acquisition of Nick Haynes - and it’s clear that his fellow All Australian in Jacob Weitering is delighted to be working with him.

With over 200 games at the elite level (including 14 finals), Haynes stamped his reputation as one of the standout intercept defenders in the competition while at GWS, and now finds himself getting after a new challenge in Navy Blue.

For co-vice captain Weitering, who has been the experienced head of Carlton’s defensive group alongside Nic Newman, the addition of Haynes has been a very welcomed one.

“‘Haynesy’ is a pretty laidback cat, but I’ve really enjoyed getting to know him,” Weitering told Carlton Media.

“He’s pretty quiet, but he’s been around for a long period of time, has been a successful player from an individual point of view while also playing in some really good defences and teams.

“For a lot of the older and younger guys, to learn a little bit off him will be great.

“In training, he’s certainly impressed - I’m definitely excited to play alongside him.”

Weitering echoed the sentiments of what his coaches and teammates have made no secret of, that there would be a heavy defensive focus for the Blues throughout the summer.

The Blues were the No.2 team for points conceded on the way to a preliminary final in 2023, but lapses cost them on occasion throughout 2024 - a trend Weitering and the Blues are very keen to bring to a halt.

“It’s probably something that let us down a little bit towards the back end of the year, that’s just a fact. It’s certainly something we’re going to go to work on which I’m really excited about.

“We’ll try a few different things throughout the pre-season, and hopefully we can go back to the back end of 2023 with the way we were playing defence as a team. It was really exciting and we were able to score off the back of it.

“We’ll get to work.”