It’s hard to recall a more seamless transition from under-18s to the Carlton Football Club than that of Jacob Weitering’s.

The No.1 draft pick, who is the Round 3 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee, has been an assured presence in Carlton’s back-line, showing a maturity well beyond his tender 18 years.

A statistical look at the Dandenong Stingrays product’s first three games paints an even clearer picture.

Weitering, who has already lined up against star forwards Jack Riewoldt, Lance Franklin and Tom Lynch, ranks first among this year’s eligible Rising Star nominees for total rebound 50s, marks, contested marks and one percenters.

He tops the leaderboard at the Blues for total contested marks, ranking a staggering fifth across the league in this category.

In Carlton’s season opener against Richmond, Weitering’s 94.1 per cent disposal efficiency was the highest of any player who had over 15 disposals. 

His 26-disposal performance against the Suns – his best outing so far – drew praise from Blues coach Brendon Bolton.

“He just continues to get better, doesn’t he? We’ve got a really good player there," Bolton said post-match.
 
"He plays beyond his years … with his composure, his intercept marks.
 
"He makes good decisions by foot (and) gives us a fair bit of drive out of there, so we’re rapt to have him and I think Carlton supporters should smile at that one.
 
"I think he’s only going to get better too, he’s only three games in."

Weitering is Carlton’s first Rising Star nominee since Patrick Cripps (Round 4, 2015), who finished second in overall voting last year to Melbourne’s Jesse Hogan.

The Blues are chasing their first Rising Star winner since the award’s inception in 1993.