For all the sublime skill and parochial home-ground support, a hush spread across Perth Stadium when Victorian defender Jacob Weitering copped a heavy knock late in the first quarter.
It is exactly what Carlton fans had feared the most: Weitering getting injured in a game of State of Origin football.
Jacob Weitering is treated after his injury.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
He was stretchered from the ground in a neck brace as we wait to hear what has happened – whether he has suffered a concussion or a shoulder or rib injury.
Weitering gave a thumbs up as he was taken by cart to the changerooms by Victorian medics.
It happened at the Western Australian half-forward line.
As Weitering flew to spoil Mitch Georgiades he landed awkwardly on his back with Georgiades then landing heavily on top of him.
The impact of the Western Australian forward collected Weitering across the shoulders and the head. Play was stopped while he was attended to by trainers.
The Victorian and Western Australian playing groups gathered separately while the game was delayed.
Carlton coach Michael Voss will be disappointed, and hoping his skipper Patrick Cripps keeps clear of any future contests.
Before Weitering flew out of Melbourne on Wednesday he told the media that the game would be hot.
“Boys are going to compete for the jumper and each other,” he said.
“It’s an opportunity that you just don’t get regularly. And we’ve seen, it’s been a long time since we’ve been able to do it, so I think the first 10 minutes is, you know, there’s going to be a few contests.“
Weitering said he was not worried about getting injured.
“The preparation, the time that has been put into it, the team that we’ve got around us, the trainers, the doctors, the communication between the clubs and the AFL, I think, has been pretty good,” he said.
It has detracted from what has been a highly skilled game. The sublime skills of Victorians Nick Daicos, Zach Merrett and Hugh McCluggage helped the visitors overcome a slow start, giving up the opening two goals, to lead by 20 points at quarter time.
The Victorians look to have too much firepower.