Mick Malthouse: Why Jacob Weitering is crucial to Carlton causing a boilover against West Coast
With Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling in form for West Coast, there’s one man Mick Malthouse says must fire for Carlton to cause a boilover against the reigning premier — Jacob Weitering.
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West Coast and Collingwood were my tips to playoff in this year’s Grand Final when we provided our predictions in pre-season.
I had Carlton winning the same number of games as Hawthorn.
I put Sydney in the bottom four, the Brisbane Lions nowhere near the top, and I couldn’t decide if Adelaide or Port Adelaide would make up the final eight.
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Most people would be surprised by Brisbane’s advancement this season — and well done to Chris Fagan and his team. And it turns out the two South Australian teams are in the battle for eighth spot with the Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn, St Kilda and Fremantle.
As for the Eagles and the Blues, while they are yards apart on the ladder, they enter today’s game closer in form than they have been for years.
The clash should be a beauty.
West Coast is fighting for a top-two finish, a home qualifying final and a double chance. So it is exactly the sort of scalp Carlton needs.
Because there’s a lot more at stake for the Blues than pride and ladder shaping. This is a forerunner to the club’s fortunes next year.
The past seven weeks under David Teague has seen a stunning turnaround for the Blues and they are finally living up to the billing of a team full of talent. They still have a long way to go, but now it’s not as far.
The Eagles are a wonderful team with a number of great players. But some of them are in the twilight of their career, particularly Josh Kennedy, so they need to make hay while the sun still shines.
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Carlton is coming off three straight wins and is no stranger to Marvel Stadium where it has posted three victories this year against the Bulldogs, Lions and Suns.
West Coast has matured greatly in the past 18 months and doesn’t seem fussed where it plays. But as we get closer to September, I’m sure it would prefer to be playing today’s game at the MCG.
The Eagles’ form is hard to read. They sit second on the ladder heading into Round 20 with 13 wins, but they give the impression that they are not premiership consistent — just yet.
They struggled against Melbourne in Alice Springs two weeks ago and just lost to Collingwood at home the week before that.
The Blues are three games out and can’t make the final eight, but they are playing the best footy of the 10 bottom teams and eighth-placed Adelaide.
There aren’t too many teams with a two-pronged tall attack that works in such harmony as Kennedy and Jack Darling, and this is where the Blues’ defence will be tested most today.
Kennedy remarkably kicked seven goals (from 10 kicks) against North Melbourne last week, but in doing so looked totally exhausted after every play.
Liam Jones, his logical opponent, was a late withdrawal and will be sorely missed by the Blues.
Kennedy is an intelligent, multi-time leader for the ball, and because of the direct supply from the West Coast midfield he inevitably finds space for a relatively easy mark.
Darling has matured and really stepped up in the past two seasons. He has 45 goals from 18 games this season. Kennedy has 39 from 16.
With Jones unavailable, Jacob Weitering’s day becomes much tougher.
Weitering can be fragile at times and keeping Kennedy and Darling under control is where the Blues may come unstuck.
West Coast’s talented mosquito fleet will take full advantage of any holes in Carlton’s defence. One upside for the Blues’ backline is the lack of space afforded to the Eagles at Marvel Stadium compared to the ’G and Perth Stadium.
Patrick Cripps is in outstanding form, but so too is the Eagles’ midfield.
Interestingly, they play so differently. Cripps dominates the stoppages, kicks goals, and can probably win Brownlows.
Whereas someone like Luke Shuey, who on the big stage took home the Norm Smith Medal, is far more dynamic with his speed over the ground.
This is a case where other midfielders will be heavily relied upon. Sam Walsh, Ed Curnow (who will most likely play a tagging role) and Marc Murphy will be greatly tested against Elliot Yeo (who may have a running role with Cripps even with the return of Mark Hutchings), Jack Redden and the ever-improving Dom Sheed.
It is disappointing for the crowd that Mitch McGovern isn’t playing for the chance to go head-to-head with his brother Jeremy.
I have seen enough of both of these teams recently not to take into account ladder positions when tipping. This game should go to the wire.
Carlton is riding on the crest of a wave, without ladder pressure. West Coast is sitting pretty but needs a win to stabilise its top-two position. That’s where the danger is.
It’s West Coast for me, but only just.
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Originally published as Mick Malthouse: Why Jacob Weitering is crucial to Carlton causing a boilover against West Coast
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