Carlton complete flawless pre-season with thrilling JLT Series win over Hawthorn in Launceston

CARLTON will head into Round 1 having won both of its pre-season matches after upsetting Hawthorn in Launceston and there was a lot to like for the Blues, including Jacob Weitering, while Jaeger O’Meara looks set for a big season for the Hawks.

Jacob Weitering was a standout down back for the Blues. Picture: Getty

CARLTON has completed a flawless pre-season campaign after securing its second win of the JLT Series with a thrilling victory over Hawthorn in Launceston.

Star Patrick Cripps said post-match the Blues want to “build a winning culture” and they certainly did that as they fought back from a 21-point half time deficit to win by five points.

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It was a scrappy affair with both sides making skill errors and at times fumbling the footy but there was plenty to like for both teams.

JAMES BRESNEHAN looks at the main takeaways for both teams.

CARLTON

PICKETT GIVES BLUES ANOTHER DIMENSION

BRENDON Bolton has brought another touch of Hawthorn to Carlton in the form of Jarrod Pickett.

The 21-year-old was electric on Saturday night in the Blues’ five-point win over Hawthorn at playing a Paul Puopolo-style role.

His “Poppy”-like pace burned off the Hawks defence and created numerous scoring opportunities for himself and the team.

Carlton is crying out for a high-pressure small forward and Jarrod Pickett could be the man. Picture: Getty

He a produced a gift of a goal for Jed Lamb in the opening term and then was hit up, again Puopolo-style, in the second term and converted for his first of two.

He sat out most of the second half when Sam Petrevski-Seton and draftee Lochie O’Brien were brought off the bench.

The Blues averaged only 10 goals a game last year, making every potential goalkicker worth his weight in gold.

With his afterburners set to maximum, Pickett could be the X-factor Carlton has been looking for.

STILL GOT IT

VETERAN Dale Thomas was the best of the bunch for the Blues up forward, kicking three critical second-half goals to play a major part in the thrilling win, while Jack Silvagni and Zac Fisher kicked two.

STIFF TO MISS OUT

HE woke with a sore neck on the morning of Carlton’s first JLT match and the Blues decided not to play Jacob Weitering.

JLT2 was a stark reminder of what he brings to the team.

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The Blues’ No.1 draft pick was everything a team wants in a key defender — aerially strong, calm and steadfast.

Not only was Weitering Carlton’s best defender, he was its leading possession winner with 26 touches and pulled down a game-high 12 marks.

Suggestion for Carlton — buy him a better pillow.

Jacob Weitering was a standout down back for the Blues. Picture: Getty

Dale Thomas celebrates one of his three goals. Picture: Getty

HAWTHORN

O’MEARA SET FOR BIG YEAR

HAWTHORN fans had little to smile about last year but this year they will have Jaeger O’Meara.

He played only handful of games in his debut season at the club, but he’s back.

The former Sun looks fit and strong, and gave the Hawks power and purpose in the midfield last night in their JLT2 clash with Carlton in Launceston.

O’Meara had 23 touches and eight tackles in a midfield that revolves around potential Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell.

Mitchell was the Hawks leading ball-winner with a best-afield 31 possessions, six marks and 10 tackles, followed by Hawthorn’s Swiss Army knife, Shaun Burgoyne, who went through the middle with forays into attack that yielded a wayward 0.3.

Jaeger O’Meara fires off a handball. Picture: Chris Kidd

ANOTHER STROKE OF RECRUITING GENIUS

THEY’VE done it again.

The Hawks, known for their clever recruiting, have another diamond to polish in the shape of former Port Adelaide line-breaker Jarman Impey.

The 22-year-old speed freak will make a huge difference to the Hawks, if his debut in brown and gold last night was anything to go by.

Impey’s pace, including his amazing closing speed to tackle and intercept-mark, and instinctive goal-sense, gives Hawthorn a weapon the deploy in defence, onball or up forward.

Impey collected 18 possessions, five marks, six tackles and importantly three goals.

Jarman Impey was impressive again for the Hawks. Picture: Getty

HERE WE GO AGAIN

APART from Impey, it was business as usual for Hawthorn in attack, with Luke Breust and Paul Puopolo snagging three and two goals respectively.

The Hawks used their standard template — Roughead playing high and laterally, Jack Gunston the marking target, and Breust and “Poppy” the chaos creators for defenders.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it

Unfortunately, they did not get enough scoring opportunities of quality in the final term to get the Hawks over the line.

IRISH EYES SMILING

IN A very short amount of time Conor Glass has shown he will be yet another in a long line of Irishmen who will make their mark on the AFL.

The international rookie came into the Hawthorn side in Round 18 against Fremantle last year and played every game for the rest of the season.

Glass quickly showed his understanding of Aussie rules and used his speed and close-checking skills to cement his spot.

He showed against Carlton he will be an important cog in a relatively new-looking Hawks backline.