Josh Jenkins believes Jacob Weitering might be the man to fill Carlton’s co-captaincy void.
Sam Docherty and Patrick Cripps led the Blues through the troubling season that culminated in David Teague’s sacking last year, however Docherty stepped down from the role on Wednesday after a reoccurrence of testicular cancer.
While Carlton may prefer Cripps to continue solo, the 26-year-old has struggled for form in the past 12 months and shouldering the captaincy of the team may prevent the All-Australian from getting back to his best.
As to who could support Cripps, Weitering and Sam Walsh have been floated as potential options.
Weitering, 24, is a best and fairest winner at the club and has developed his game in the last two years to be Carlton’s premier key defender.
When discussing Carlton’s “predicament”, Jenkins believes Weitering has all the assets to make a fine co-captain.
“It puts them in an interesting predicament, doesn’t it? Cripps is coming off a subpar year for him, now he looks like he’s probably going to shoulder the load himself unless (a player like) Jacob Weitering could step up,” he told SEN Breakfast.
“He’s very impressive when he speaks publicly, we know his game now stands up, he’s an elite defender.
“I think they’d probably like to share that role with Cripps and somebody else.
“Coming off a slight down season for Cripps, I reckon they’d like to share that, and I reckon Weitering would be the man.
“He’s going to take on a bigger load himself without Liam Jones, but listening to him speak and hearing some of his teammates speak about him, he does seem the obvious choice.”
However, the former Crow rubbished talk Walsh could become a co-captain.
Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy told Sportsday on Wednesday he would like to see Walsh promoted to vice-captain, and Jenkins supports that idea, providing they’re for the right reasons.
“That’s ridiculous,” Jenkins said in response to the idea of Walsh becoming co-captain.
“No issue about putting him into a leadership position, providing he’s ready and able and willing.
“(But) don’t put him there so you don’t lose him to another club. That’d be foolish.”
Walsh, 21, is seemingly destined for AFL greatness after the impressive start to his career.
The Blues also lost Liam Jones and Marc Murphy from last year’s leadership group, with the new cohort expected to be announced in the next month.