AFL: Carlton vice-captain Jacob Weitering believes Blues’ midfield can cover Patrick Cripps’ potential absence
Patrick Cripps is yet to be ruled out of Carlton’s Easter Sunday clash with Port Adelaide but the Blues think they can cover him
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Carlton defender Jacob Weitering is confident the Blues’ retooled on-ball division can cover skipper Patrick Cripps if he is sidelined with a left hamstring injury.
More will be known about Cripps’ immediate future on Tuesday but coach Michael Voss was hopeful after Carlton’s first loss of the season that the setback was only minor.
Gold Coast blitzed the Cripps-less Blues midfield in clearances (43-27), centre clearances (13-11) and contested possessions (142-129) after he exited the game late in the first quarter.
But Weitering felt Carlton would be better prepared on Easter Sunday if it had to enter the Port Adelaide clash without the 27-year-old, particularly with ruckman Marc Pittonet (back) expected to return.
“I’m fully confident in our midfield. It is tough to make the change mid-game,” Weitering said.
“We saw with ‘Walshy’ (Sam Walsh) out and ‘Cez’ (Adam Cerra) out in consecutive weeks that we were able to fill the void and get a job done.
“We got beaten last week in the middle, but it’s one of our strengths, for sure, the centre-bounce clearances, and I’m sure someone will step up and fill the void.
“It’s been well-documented we got ‘Cez’ and George (Hewett) in and they’ve done a terrific job for us ... I think three of them are averaging 28, 29 disposals and they’re using it really well.”
Weitering tipped Paddy Dow to step up after a strong run of VFL form, as well as for wingers Will Setterfield and Lochie O’Brien to potentially get more opportunity in the centre.
The Blues’ co-vice-captain was “disappointed” with their display against the Suns but paid credit to the way Stuart Dew’s team “took it” to them.
“It’s a tough one, because it hasn’t been a pattern of ours,” he said.
“We’ve played six matches now, including pre-season, and that’s probably the first performance across four quarters that we haven’t been able to produce what we wanted to.
“There were things (that went wrong) on offence and defence and there were inefficiencies all over the ground and we’ll certainly look at that.
“But we look ahead to Port Adelaide, who are winless and probably going to be coming out pretty tough and hard as well.”
Weitering expected to go to Todd Marshall or Mitch Georgiades in Charlie Dixon’s injury absence but was wary about the wounded Power’s challenge despite it being winless.
“There’s a bit of memory going back to last year, playing against them in Adelaide,” he said.
“I think we were two goals up on them halfway through the second quarter, then they kicked 19-straight in the second half, so we certainly won’t be taking them lightly.
“We need to make a response this week. I’m sure they’ll be training hard and wanting their first win of the season, so no liberties.”
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Originally published as AFL: Carlton vice-captain Jacob Weitering believes Blues’ midfield can cover Patrick Cripps’ potential absence
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