FROM AN individual perspective, Jacob Weitering believes his 2021 season was better than the previous which yielded a John Nicholls Medal.

However, holistically, it wasn’t the year that the leader or anyone involved with the Club wanted.

For the second consecutive season, Weitering played every game and was named in the All-Australian squad of 40.

Entering the year as a best-and-fairest winner, Weitering admitted that he had some doubt when it came to dealing with the expectation leading in.

Not that his form line showed that.

“It was a little bit different to last year, when I was very honoured and privileged to win the best and fairest. I was wondering how I was going to back it up and do my best this year,” Weitering told Carlton Media.

“Those individual accolades come and go, but the team success is truly what I want and we weren’t able to get that this year.

“Everything was looking up for us going into this season — not that it was a complete failure, but it wasn’t the season that we wanted. We’re going to own that as a playing group.”

The Blues were in striking distance to make something more of their 2021 season but it failed to come to fruition: something that’s not lost on the second-year leader.

The defender was forthright about the fact that all of those in Navy Blue would have to watch another finals series from home.

“From a playing point of view, we want to own the fact that we didn’t get to where we wanted to get to this year. Player accountability is going to be massive.

“That’s got to be driven by the leaders, and it certainly will.

“We’ve got be a team-first, selfless outfit. We’ve got to go out and do a job for each other, put our heads down and do the right thing for the Club, the fans and everyone in the Club.”

The Jones effect

Everyone inside the four walls of IKON Park - and plenty outside of it - know about the tight-knit relationship between Jacob Weitering and Liam Jones.

The proof is in the pudding.

Jones has been on record saying Weitering’s individual accolades drives him to a higher standard, while Weitering ‘shared’ his 2020 John Nicholls Medal with his key defensive partner.

“I did a fairly heartfelt speech when I won the best and fairest, but it’s all true and it comes from a very good place,” he said.

“He deserves all the credit that people give him, for the person he is, the player he has become and the adversity he has had to go through. He’s a terrific person and it’s a pleasure to play and train alongside him.

“He took his game to another level this year… and he’s got a few more years in him for sure.”

Sam ‘John’ Walsh

As mentioned, Weitering is of the belief that his 2021 season was an improvement on his 2020 campaign.

However, despite that, he doesn’t see himself retaining his John Nicholls Medal.

That’s because of the form of someone who he has been linked with since the moment he joined Weitering as a No.1 draft pick at IKON Park.

So what nickname has been following Sam Walsh around since the midway point of the season?

“At the back-end of last year, a few of the boys were calling me ‘John’ and that was with maybe 2-3 weeks to go in the season. I think we’ve been calling him ‘John’ since the halfway point of this season: he could’ve been writing his speech in the bye week I reckon,” he said.

“It’s his third year in the Club and he hasn’t really put a foot wrong. He’s a really humble guy, he’s incredibly well-liked and respected and the way he goes about it is pretty incredible to watch.

“He’s going to be a star of this club for a long time and he’s already a leader of this club.”

Jacob with a (C)

He didn’t actually know he was next in line, but he relished the opportunity all the same.

That’s not to say there weren’t a few nerves, however.

It was a significant moment in the Navy Blue story of Jacob Weitering in Round 18, when - in the absence of Patrick Cripps and Sam Docherty - he was given the nod to captain the football club.

It was the first of two occasions where Weitering led the team out, and the victory over Collingwood at the MCG isn’t an experience which Weitering is going to forget any time soon.

“The first time was pretty cool. I was a little nervous… I was very nervous. I probably though too much into it: it was more about the speeches before the game and at half time,” he said.

“We got the result and it was a real honour to captain the Club. It just shows with ‘Crippa’ and ‘Doc’ doing it every week, the expectation on them to go out there and perform and lead the Club.

“I gave Mum and Dad a call, I gave the grandparents a call. My parents were incredibly proud, of who I am as a person and the player I’ve become.

“They said what they say every week, which is to go out and try your hardest and do your best for us. That’s what I was hopefully able to do.”