ON the back of a tough contest against North Melbourne, Carlton was once again able to stand up when the metaphorical heat was on in wet and physical conditions. 

The collective defensive unit totalled 32 intercepts, with nine of those coming from Lachie Plowman, to add to an already outstanding season. 

Jacob Weitering is currently leading the AFL in most defensive contested one-on-ones, losing only six from 46 this season, with Carlton leading the league for the stat overall. 

“We’re incredibly proud of that stat and we want to hold ourselves to that standard,” Weitering said. 

“We really back each other in, especially down in our backline.”

With Weitering and Liam Jones being the two tall pillars down back, Weitering told SEN Breakfast that they work together closely to put together their defensive plan prior to games. 

One of the in-form defenders of the competition, Weitering credited his partnership with Jones as a key reason behind his form in recent seasons on the back of a difficult 2018 campaign.

"I've got a really good working relationship with 'Jonesy'. It probably dates back to 2018, when he made the switch from forward to back and I was having a really tough in 2018, playing a few reserves games," he said.

“We built a bit of chemistry from there... I have full confidence in 'Jonesy' and I hope he does in me that we can get our jobs done.

“In terms of match-ups each week, we sit down and have a conversation about the forwards that we’re playing that week."

As a No.1 draft pick himself, Weitering knows a bit about external expectations. 

He believes the group is now flourishing in terms of development under David Teague. 

“We’ve had some really good players in recent years, obviously in 'Crippa' and 'Doc', 'Murph' and Ed Curnow [have] been a great service to the club and they’ve probably needed some help,” he said. 

“The season we’ve just had, everyone's got a bit older and got a bit more development in them.”

Weitering believes the playing group will be getting reward for effort if they keep putting in the hard yards at training and on game day, whether at senior or reserves scratch match level.

“It’s a really good environment to be in at the moment and the young guys are getting rewarded for their hard effort,” he said. 

“'Teaguey' has really just brought a positive attitude where he really backs his players in and that’s been the best thing about it.”