JACOB Weitering spoke to SEN on Tuesday morning, detailing his ongoing return from injury, the impact of Harry Dean plus the team’s recent defensive shift.

Here’s what he had to say.

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Injury update, young Blues and recent form: Weitering on SEN

Listen to SEN's interview with Jacob Weitering as he speaks on Carlton's current form, provides an update on his calf injury and the impact first year players are having.

On his calf injury: 

“It's getting there. It's a little frustrating: I've been relatively durable over my career, and it seems to me that the calf is the Achilles' heel of it all.

“Both the medical team and myself felt that it would be good to give it a few extra weeks, and that bye was very handy to get during that period.

“I got 10 kilometres out on Saturday. I'll be training fully today and testing on Thursday to see if I can go on Saturday. Frustrating, but at the same time, I’m glad I can sort of get a mini pre-season in and rehab it correctly without rushing it back.

“The medical team have been great at that communication piece and making sure that I'm comfortable with my body, that I can do a job for the team for four quarters. There's a long way to go in the season and we didn't want to jeopardise that.”

On Michael Voss’ departure being a “circuit breaker” for the group:  

“The nature in which ‘Vossy’ left the Club allowed us as a group and as a club to move forward.

“We did need a bit of a fresh start in some areas and ‘Frase’ has come in and been very simple with his messaging. Focusing on the fundamentals, the enjoyment of being a good teammate, the little things that get your wins.

“We didn't feel it was going to change straight away, although it has from a results point of view, but we're still building on certain areas.

“We had some great progress against Port Adelaide and Geelong, then we felt like we regressed a little bit against the Dons in certain areas that we've been going after. I thought the boys did a wonderful job at responding. against GWS.”

On what has changed in recent weeks:

“We've looked at the game plan a little bit, and we've tweaked a few things. We've also looked at the way the game's being played.

“High transition, I think there's 10 to 12 less stoppages per game, but fundamentally there's still contest and stoppages, and that's been our strength. We wanted to build off that and improve some areas that the game's heading towards.”

On the team’s defensive integrity and connection:

“That was something we were probably lacking. We were defending a fair bit in our back half and as a team defence, we just weren't gelling as well as we would have liked.

“If you can play in your front half more, you've hopefully got more opportunities to score. We've tweaked a few things around that. The intensity of a few of the younger boys, the energy that they've brought…

“Talor Byrne is a very, very small man. He's about the size of my right leg, but he hits like a truck. If he's having five or six touches but putting on five or six tackles, another five or six pressure acts, that is his role and he’s been doing an unbelievable job at providing that.

“Frankie Evans down there as well, Jack Ison‘s come in and I could probably speak all day on the way Harry Dean’s gone about it.

“There's a bit of energy that's been brought back into the group. I think the balance that we've got between what our strengths are and then getting after that defensive integrity, and the transition game complements that as well.”

On Harry Dean’s development and Rising Star chances:

“Typically awards like that are stats-driven, but the impact he’s having on our team, regardless of the statistical output… even if he has nine or 10 touches, there typically nine or 10 intercept possessions.”

“He’s doing a role which is pretty unbelievable for an 18-year-old.

“He’s got that grunt and confidence to go out and not only get a role done on a very good player for their side, but to come off and help his teammates. He’s that new-breed defender: he’s got that balance between attack and defence.

“The boys absolutely love him. I think he’s becoming a cult figure with the fans and the way he gets into opposition players. He's just one of a few of the young players that are giving us great energy and that's been a massive part of how we've been able to turn this season around.”