On a night when Carlton lost by nine goals, one young Blue shone as bright as the first quarter fireworks that lit the Gold Coast sky behind Metricon Stadium.
 
Number one draft pick Jacob Weitering was destined to be a star, and against the Suns, the young defender showed just why.
 
While many players struggled with the greasy conditions, Weitering – in just his third game – was clean, polished and composed in Carlton's back half.
 
He was clearly the team's best player.
 
He finished with 26 disposals (10 contested) and nine marks in a performance that excited coach Brendon Bolton.
 
"He just continues to get better, doesn’t he? We’ve got a really good player there," Bolton said.
 
"He plays beyond his years … with his composure, his intercept marks.
 
"He makes good decisions by foot (and) gives us a fair bit of drive out of there, so we’re rapt to have him and I think Carlton supporters should smile at that one.
 
"I think he’s only going to get better too, he’s only three games in."


Bolton said Weitering would continue to develop by spending time on all types of forwards, with Michael Jamison and Sam Rowe generally taking the primary targets.
 
Outside of Weitering's fine showing, it was a difficult night for the winless Blues though, as they conceded the game's final six goals.
 
Bolton said he was disappointed with the final quarter fade-out, but most of his concern came with the shoddy ball use.
 
"We need to keep being bold with the ball," he said.
 
"It’s hurting us on turnovers, no doubt about that, I think they would have kicked nearly all their score, a dozen goals or 11 goals from turnovers.
 
"So we’ve got to improve that, we’ve got to use the ball better going forward.
 
"In the last quarter I will question our effort a little bit, I thought we fell away a bit in the last quarter.
 
"We’re a team that’s got to learn to endure for four quarters, this competition demands that you do so and we’ll continue to demand it from our players and challenge it when we don’t."