AFL: Follow the latest off-season news and updates

Former Blue Dale Thomas has revealed his fears for Carlton’s defence without Liam Jones and named the player he thinks Michael Voss could call on.

Liam Jones’ reasons for choosing retirement over a Covid vaccine remain a mystery as former Carlton star Dale Thomas feared for the gaping hole it will leave in new coach Michael Voss’s backline.

Thomas reached out to Jones before he announced his retirement and offered to help mould the public narrative around his resistance to the Covid jabs.

While Jones -- who is not afraid of needles -- did not respond, Thomas said he would always support the man he played with from 2015-2019.

Sport’s greatest rivalry is just around the corner and you can catch the Ashes live and ad-break free during play. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

Dale Thomas and Liam Jones played together at Carlton. Picture: Jay Town

“I reached out to Liam, this was before he’d made his decision (to retire), and said, ‘If there’s anything the media are misconstruing or whatever I’m happy to push a different opinion on your behalf’,” Thomas told News Corp.

“Look, it’s his opinion. He’s obviously got his reasons, I don’t know them, so it’s very hard to speculate or comment in that regard.

“I still think to this day no one has really come out and said the reason rather than it’s just not going to happen.

“Was I surprised? Yes, but it’s his decision and I’m sure in time it’ll be made a lot clearer as to why it was.

“Obviously an Indigenous boy too, so there may be a cultural side to it – but that’s just me being speculative.

“It’s his decision – it’s going to leave a big hole, I know that much.”

Blues legend Chris Judd believes chemistry is the secret ingredient to Carlton’s rebuild, which can only be built from players lining up alongside each other week after week.

But Jones’ shock decision means centre half-back Jacob Weitering will now have to start again as Voss prepares a new one-two tandem for the back half.

“As maligned as (Jones) was at times throughout his career, he’s been a pillar down in the backline, him and Jacob Weitering,” Thomas said.

Jones had become a key cog in Carlton’s defence. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

“(Weitering) is a John Nicholls Medallist (2020 Carlton best-and-fairest winner) and should’ve arguably been All-Australian at least this year and arguably the year before as well.

“He’s been fantastic. They (Jones and Weitering) had such great synergy because they worked together.

“You look at Melbourne – (Jake) Lever and (Steven) May – their ability to know what the other one is doing.

“Michael Voss has got a bit of a gap to fill already. There’s some talk Mitch McGovern might get an opportunity down there, and I’m not sure when Caleb Marchbank is back.

“No doubt they’ve got the cattle down there to fill it, but those two have just been such great pillars.”

Originally published as AFL: Follow the latest off-season news and updates