IT DIDN’T take long into Saturday night’s wildcard final for Carlton’s spirit to come to the fore.

After a Melbourne mark inside the opening mark, Harry Dean was felled by Harry Sharp, resulting in a free kick reversal.

But what it also resulted in was an instant response from Dean’s teammates. Within seconds, no less than eight Blues were there to remonstrate, ensuring the first-year Blue wasn’t going it alone.

According to Carlton co-vice captain Jacob Weitering, it was indicative of the Blues making sure that no matter what, they don’t lose the spirit battle.

Speaking to media on Monday, he said it had been a direct message that “started from the top”.

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“‘Frase’ has done a wonderful job, not simplifying but changing a few things here and there, plus emphasising what really matters. I reckon you’ve seen it come out in things off the ball,” Weitering said.

“That first contest, Petty takes a contested mark and there’s a free kick given away - the response to look after a teammate, protect him and do it the right way, that’s the stuff we’ve been going after.”

For the 91,000 in attendance or those tuning into the game, they would’ve seen that the moment didn’t get to Dean - rather, he rose to it.

One of the Blues’ most impressive on Saturday night, the first-year Blue was excellent playing alongside Weitering… with the All-Australian defender saying that Dean’s outstanding form had even been a topic of conversation at home.

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“My wife showed me a quote, I think it was from James Hird - he said [Dean] would be better than me. I said ‘Bloody oath he will’.

“There’s the obvious stuff with his spoiling and getting his job done against his man, his intercept marking… he’s just a valued teammate. I referenced that first contest: you saw how many blokes went up to Sharp and wanted to protect him.

“The term ‘cult figure’ has been thrown out, he’s just a guy that everyone wants to play for. That’s pretty hard to do in your first year, to earn that amount of respect. I’m looking forward to playing with him until the end of my career.”