Carlton superstar Jacob Weitering confirms timeline for return from injury

Carlton is crying out for Jacob Weitering to return from injury as soon as possible and now the reliable defender has provided an update.

Jacob Weitering appeared in pain as he left the field. Picture: Michael Klein

Carlton key defender Jacob Weitering is aiming to return from his shoulder injury against St Kilda in round 16 but says it’s possible he won’t be back until a week after that.

As the Blues plan for life without their defensive architect, senior coach Michael Voss informed Caleb Marchbank that he would come into the side for his first AFL game since 2019.

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Vice-captain Weitering was subbed out in the first quarter of Carlton’s last game before the bye, a loss to bitter rivals Collingwood, after suffering a shoulder injury.

Scans confirmed he would have the same surgery that is keeping St Kilda superstar Jack Steele on the sidelines.

Jacob Weitering watched on as Carlton suffered its third defeat of the season against Collingwood. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Carlton had been expecting Weitering to miss about six weeks of footy, but the former No. 1 draft pick on Wednesday revealed he was aiming to return a little earlier if possible.

“We did say six weeks post-surgery, which I think takes us to the West Coast game in Perth (in round 17),” he told SEN.

“We’ve actually got St Kilda leading into West Coast so that’s four and then five weeks post, so that’s the aim.

“(But West Coast) is probably the game that’s most realistic.”

Weitering said his focus was on remaining upbeat.

“For me, I’ve just got to remain as positive as I can and make sure I rehab this as well as I can,” he said.

Weitering’s return can’t come soon enough for Carlton; the Blues have been decimated by injury this season and key defenders Mitch McGovern and Oscar McDonald are already riding the pine.

Carlton lost Weitering’s defensive partner-in-crime Liam Jones before the season even began after he chose to retire rather than become vaccinated against Covid-19.

Carlton selected Caleb Marchbank with pick six of the 2014 draft. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Wainwright

Brodie Kemp and Sam Durdin both looked chances to come into the side in Weitering’s place, but on Tuesday night Carlton confirmed that Marchbank had been given the nod.

Friday night’s clash with Essendon will be Marchbank’s first at AFL level since round 16 of the 2019 season.

A cruel run of injuries has kept Marchbank out of the big leagues; since last playing AFL footy, the former first-round draft pick has been struck down by a fractured neck vertebrae, calf complaints and an ACL tear.

A win against Essendon could lift Carlton back into the top four, a game clear of the logjam forming in the top eight.

Originally published as Carlton superstar Jacob Weitering confirms timeline for return from injury