Jacob Weitering believes he has a lot more to give as a player.
“IF YOU’RE not hungry after the season and a final like that, you probably shouldn’t be playing the game.”
Co-vice captain Jacob Weitering is adamant that the only way is forward for the Blues, who are looking ahead to their 2025 campaign.
The defender – while admitting to the frustration – said he along with the leadership group will be motivated to enforce a shift heading into the off-season.
“I know for a fact the leadership group is hugely motivated to get the best out of ourselves,” Weitering said.
“I know refining parts of our game will be something we’ll be looking at closely over the pre-season and I’ve got full confidence in the way we play the game the way we play our brand of football, that blue collar identity.”
A lack of consistency may seem like an oft-used term, but the 26-year-old elaborated on how the team can build those habits and what the barriers were to making that a reality in the future.
2024 in review | Jacob Weitering, the full chatIn a recent interview following the 2024 season, Jacob Weitering reflected on the year and looked ahead to what’s next for the Carlton Football Club. Drawing inspiration from one of AFL Senior Coach Michael Voss’s favorite quotes by Aristotle, Weitering emphasized the importance of building positive habits.
“‘We are what we repeatedly do’ — that’s a quote ‘Vossy’ shares often,” Weitering said. He believes the off-season is a crucial time for players to focus on self-improvement. “It’s a great opportunity to get better, whether it’s one per cent, five per cent, or even 10 per cent, especially for the younger players.”
Weitering stressed that if the team commits to doing the basics well, focusing on defense, identity, pressure, and contest, they’ll develop into a consistent football side.
Despite earning his first All-Australian jacket in 2024, Weitering remains grounded, viewing the accolade as just one step in his journey. “It’s great to receive recognition, but I don’t feel like I’ve reached anywhere near my full potential yet,” he admitted.
The end-of-season meeting was described as both honest and raw, marking not only the conclusion of the 2024 season but also setting the standard for 2025.
Reflecting on personal growth, Carlton’s co-vice captain expressed his belief that he’s just starting to tap into his full potential. “It’s something all players aspire to – being their absolute best. I don’t think I’m there yet, I’m just scratching the surface,” he admitted.
While individual accolades are rewarding, he emphasized the importance of team support and was particularly proud of how he helped others in the backline, including younger players like Lachie Cowan and Brodie Kemp. Focusing on their development provided him with a positive outlet, especially during challenging moments in his own form.
“My frustrations often stemmed from uncontrollable factors, like playing through pain after taking a knock,” he said. “But I feel I managed it well and learned how critical it is to make someone else better when things aren’t going your way.”
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