The "unbelievable" talent at the heart of Carlton's blistering form

Jacob Weitering has long been Carlton’s anchor in defence, shouldering much of the load behind the ball as their sole outstanding key back.

This season, he has received help in the form of the game’s most talented young key defender.

Since being selected with the third overall pick in the 2025 National Draft, father/son prospect Harry Dean has lit up the competition.

Slotting in alongside Weitering, the 18-year-old key defensive prospect has shunned the stereotypes, immediately contributing in a crucial manner as a key position player in just his first season at the level.

Son of 1987 and 1995 premiership Blue Peter, Harry has blanketed a number of top key forwards, proving a major cog in the Blues’ season turnaround en route to five straight wins.

Awarded the Rising Star nomination against the Cats in Round 12, Dean has averaged 13 disposals, six marks, six intercept possessions and four spoils over the Blues’ winning run – within which Weitering has featured just twice.

The Blues are spoilt for choice in their Rising Star campaigns, with Jagga Smith arguably the best ball-winner in this year’s cohort.

That said, the co-vice-captain is riding for his defensive partner.

“Typically, awards like that are a little bit stat driven,” Weitering told *SEN Whateley.

“But the impact that he is having on our team regardless of the statistical output (is immense).

“Even if he has nine or 10 touches, they are typically nine or 10 intercept possessions, he’s got five or six spoils in there, and he is doing a role which is pretty unbelievable for an 18-year-old.

“I think back to my time, I was probably playing on the third tall in my first year and a few of the keys.

“I’ve heard Harry speak in the media as well about how hard it is to develop as a key position player, but he’s just got that aggression.

“He’s got that grunt and that confidence to go out and not only get a role done on a very good player for their side, but to come off and help his teammates.

“He is that new-breed defender – he’s got the balance between attack and defend, and geez he’s been a pleasure to watch.

“I haven’t had to do much in terms on mentoring, and I don’t think I will be going forward.

“He’s been a great partner in crime when I’ve been out there, and you’ve got guys like Wade Derksen coming in and Lewis Young as well for parts of this year.

“Looking forward to what he can do, but hopefully we’ve got two guys up there competing for the same award.”

Drafted with the first overall pick in 2015, Weitering acts as the perfect mentor for Dean, developing from a slightly undersized key to one of the game’s best one-on-one defenders of the modern era.

He now views the young talent as his successor as the Blues’ defensive coordinator.

“It’s great for me,” he said.

“Hopefully I can hand over the number one role sooner rather than later, and I can come off and help him just as much as I can.

“It’s scary that he’s 18. You look at him and go yeah, he could probably put a little bit of meat on, and you could probably do a little bit of this and a little bit of that, but he is playing senior AFL football at 18.

“The way he’s going about it… there’s not much that he really needs to change.

“There will be some refinements here and there each week, but as I mentioned, he’s got the balance in his game at the moment, he’s got the confidence, he’s got the grunt.

“The boys absolutely love him; I think he’s becoming a bit of a cult hero with the fans in the way he gets into opposition players.

“As I mentioned, he is just one of a few of the young players that are giving us great energy.

“I think that’s been a massive part of how we’ve been able to turn this season around.”