Ahead of one of the most anticipated AFL matches of the early season, Carlton has received a major defensive boost, with two of its starting defenders cleared to return for Thursday night’s blockbuster against Collingwood at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Jacob Weitering and Harry Dean, both of whom missed the Blues’ Gather Round clash with Adelaide after sustaining concussions, have been confirmed fit to retake their spots in the back six. Stand-in defenders Nick Haynes and Wade Derksen were forced to step up against the Crows last week, a match that pushed the understudies outside their usual comfort zone.
Speaking to media on Tuesday, Carlton senior coach Michael Voss confirmed the pair’s return, noting that both have successfully completed all concussion protocol requirements. “They’ll both be available,” Voss said. “They trained under the protocols last week on Friday and they’ve trained fully this week. I expect them to be available, they’ll end up back in the side. I’ll fit Jacob back in somewhere I reckon, he’ll find a spot. They’ll be two important additions for us – both the old and the new.”
Weitering suffered his concussion in a marking contest on Good Friday, leaving the backline short of its veteran leader for the Adelaide clash. Dean’s return adds critical depth to a defensive unit that was stretched thin last round, a gap the club will be relieved to fill heading into its rivalry match against the Magpies, who are currently working through their own forward line selection challenges.
Last week’s match against Adelaide also left Voss responding to commentary over his controversial decision to bench captain Patrick Cripps for the opening stretch of the second quarter. Carlton started the match with one of its strongest opening quarters of the year, but Cripps’ absence allowed the Crows to grab the momentum and surge to an eventual lead.
Voss has doubled down on his rotation strategy, pushing back at critics who questioned the call. “I understand there was some commentary on it,” he said. “But correct me if I’m wrong, you all had him traded last week didn’t you? Now he’s playing 100 per cent game time. We do what the team needs, it’s team-first. We’ve got a rotation that we want to make sure we execute, there’s some immediate impact that we need to have. But we also take into account that it’s the whole game we need to be able to play and bring intensity around the ball.”
Beyond the confirmed returns of Weitering and Dean, Voss also revealed the club is weighing a recall for reigning Carlton best and fairest winner George Hewett, who was dropped from the match side ahead of the Adelaide clash.