Young gun Jacob Weitering has credited the Blues’ leadership group for Sunday’s one-point victory over Greater Western Sydney at Etihad Stadium. 

The Blues held firm on Sunday afternoon, claiming the nail-biting victory over the ladder-leading Giants, and Weitering, who has been used as a swingman in his second season at Carlton, praised both Marc Murphy and Sam Docherty for their composure throughout the final quarter of the game.

“It was a great win for the boys. We’ve got close a couple of times this year so obviously it was a great result for us to be able to close it out and get up against a team that has had a pretty good year,” Weitering said. 

“We’ve had three or four chances this year where we could’ve won the game in the last quarter and I think our leaders really stood up yesterday once again for us. (Sam) is one guy for us who has been playing some pretty great football for a few years now and he’s really starting to get to that elite level. 

“He is a good user of the ball and knows when to come off his man… He’s just a general for us down back. He’s a true leader for us at the Club and someone I really look up to. He’s only 23 too which is pretty scary!”
 

Weitering praised his captain, who again led from the front on-field notching up 30 possessions and was the prime mover through the Blues’ midfield on Sunday afternoon.

“Last year, while he wasn’t out on the field with his injury, 'Murph' was certainly leading from the front and was a terrific mentor for us younger boys, especially those in the midfield like David Cuningham who is also starting to hit his straps,” Weitering said. 

“But to have Murph out there on field for us, he’s just very cool, calm and composed with the ball in hand and we know he steps up in the big moments which I think all our leaders have been standing up in those big moments this year and that showed yesterday. 

"But obviously we still have a really young team and (so a win like that) it builds character for the group. We’re gelling really well – both the young and older boys –  hopefully that continues to hold us in good stead for the rest of the season and now we turn our focus to the task against Gold Coast on Saturday night."

The Suns, who are coming off a 16-point victory over the Hawks, face the Blues at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.