Jacob Weitering (Dandenong Stingrays)

Height: 195 cm
Weight: 90 kg
Position: Key defender
Player comparison: Ben Reid
Strengths: Marking, positioning, foot skills, leadership, endurance
Weaknesses: Speed, agility
First year impact: Rising Star nominee

Kicking: Excellent
Marking: Elite
Endurance: Elite
Speed: Average

Jacob Weitering is the top player in the draft, with Carlton more than a certainty to snaffle him up with pick one. While Weitering and Vic Country’s Josh Schache have been tussling for top billing, Weitering’s finals performances, coupled with the fact Carlton finished bottom instead of Brisbane, has given him the nod to be first selected in November’s national draft.

Weitering’s greatest strength is his ability to read the ball in flight and position himself ahead of the marking contest. He is not afraid to fly across a pack and take a grab and reach over and snaffle the ball from an opponent.

He loves one-on-one situations, or when he has the space to do as he pleases. Similar to Ben Reid pre-injury during Collingwood’s successful years of late, he reads the ball from down field and closes angles and space to come across and help other defenders. But unlike other loose men, he is more than capable of beating stronger defenders.

While he will still need to fill out a little at AFL level, he could take a similar path to Adelaide’s Jake Lever. Weitering would play more matches than Lever however, given he is not coming off a serious knee injury. He would, in all seriousness, become Carlton’s second best key defender behind Michael Jamison, overtaking him in a few years.

In terms of weaknesses, he does not have too many. He is not an athletic beast nor is he very quick off the mark. He disguises his lack of speed because he can anticipate situations before they happen, however Weitering is slower than other defenders in the draft crop.

This means for AFL level, he might struggle against the faster, more athletically gifted forwards such as Cam McCarthy or Lance Franklin, but would be at home against the stronger, brute forwards.

Carlton fans should not worry about his lack of speed, because the way he sets up and leads the back six as a unit. He is likely to be the kind of player than will listen intently and as he gains more confidence with his teammates, not be afraid to share his views on how to improve the side defensively.

Weitering is the kind of player than will receive enormous amounts of praise and have a huge burden on his shoulders as a “great white hope” similar to Jesse Hogan at Melbourne. Luckily, Weitering has that rounded personality – it appears not much will faze him.

His leadership is another strength that should not go unnoticed. At Dandenong and Vic Country this year, it was clear he was a true leader in both situations and that would translate to AFL level. He captained both sides and is a general in the back half.

One of the biggest qualities that sets Weitering aside from other young key defenders is his kicking. He is an excellent kick over short and long distances and is a good decision maker. His ability to hit up targets under pressure is invaluable given his role.

In the AFL, it is envisaged Weitering will play that third tall option and learn his craft in the Carlton back six. Over the next couple of years, he will become the number one key defender, however he is best used as that creative half back. So rather than  playing at the last line, Weitering is likely to play at centre half back and set up plays from there.

As he showed in stints over the season and in particular in the last quarter of Dandenong’s season, Weitering has the potential to go forward and become a dangerous target in the forward 50. Because he reads the flight of the ball well, he positions himself well and can often outsmart his defender to find the right space and time to lead for the ball.

Having a defender’s mindset, Weitering is able to anticipate opponents moves while in the forward half and uses it to his advantage. As mentioned he is strong overhead and one-on-one so he would have no qualms playing at either end of the field.

While he will become that elite key defender at AFL level, it would be handy for coaching staff to know he can go forward and become a force there.

Jacob Weitering will end up as the first pick in the 2015 national draft and Carlton will select him. He will become a franchise player for the Blues and someone they can craft a team around. In a draft that has so few franchise players, the Blues have struck gold with Weitering and it will soften the blow of receiving the wooden spoon.