potential of dealing the All-Australian defender<\/a>.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s a few more factors at play.<\/p>\n
Carlton\u2019s inexperienced defence has stood up superbly in Weitering\u2019s absence. That includes Harry Dean, who already looks like he\u2019s played 200 games and has fast established himself as a leader. <\/p>\n
Plus Wade Derksen continues to look more comfortable at the top level; the SSP recruit has taken the fourth-most intercept marks of any player through 11 games.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, with each passing Carlton win, it\u2019s making it more challenging for the club to secure highly-rated father-son prodigy Cody Walker.<\/p>\n
The Blues currently hold picks 9 and 17, which wouldn\u2019t be enough to match a bid for Walker with the first two selections in the 2026 draft.<\/p>\n
Walsh praises Blues interim Fraser | 00:44<\/p>\n
And so Tigers champion Jack Riewoldt questioned if Carlton could consider shopping Weitering to bolster their draft hand and ensure they can secure Walker. <\/p>\n
\u201cWeitering is the one that has some form of collateral if you find yourself in a position where you\u2019ve got to go find a high first-round pick,\u201d he said on Fox Footy\u2019s On the Couch.<\/p>\n
\u201cWeitering hasn\u2019t been there for (over two months) and we see Harry Dean and this young defence continue to shine. Wade Derksen is another player that stood up on the weekend. That\u2019s your spine.<\/p>\n
\u201cEssendon currently sitting with the first pick; they\u2019re not going to do any favours for Carlton, surely? They\u2019re going to be bidding on Dougie Cochrane and Cody Walker.<\/p>\n
\u201cHave we seen enough without Weitering over the last six weeks to go, maybe this defence can stand up?\u201d<\/p>\n
The Blues are already looking to bolster their defence as a keen suitor for Bulldogs free agent Buku Khamis.<\/p>\n
So, if, for example, North was prepared to trade its first-round pick and more for Weitering, Carlton would surely need to at least look at it.<\/p>\n
While the prospect of trading Weitering would be putting a lot of faith in the likes of Derksen, perhaps the bigger question is whether they really need Weitering and Dean. <\/p>\n
Triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown argued Carlton could yet need Weitering\u2019s leadership to help nurture its younger defenders and questioned whether trading the co-vice captain was too great a risk. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo, you\u2019re saying if it\u2019s the difference between getting Cody Walker or not, you\u2019d trade Jacob Weitering?,\u201d he said to Riewoldt.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019d be a big call, mate. An All-Australian defender out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Is Clarkson under pressure? | 02:35<\/p>\n
To which Riewoldt responded: \u201cIt\u2019d be a huge call, but you\u2019ve got to make these sort of calls at this time.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo go: \u2018Well we\u2019re not going to win it in maybe the next two to three years. But we\u2019re going to win it in four years and we expect Walker would be a part of the nucleus.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019d do anything to get him in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of course, Weitering could simply say no to a trade and then the conversation is over. <\/p>\n
Though four-time premiership Hawk Jordan Lewis agreed with Riewoldt that Carlton bosses should at least explore what\u2019s best for the club in its long-term pursuit of a flag.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the job of (footy boss) Chris Davies and (CEO) Graham Wright. Absolutely, you have to see three to four years ahead,\u201d Lewis said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd think: \u2018Are we genuinely going to contend in the next two years?\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d entertain it. I think we\u2019ve had a big sample size without him being there and seeing these young kids who are grabbing the opportunity. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe thing (Brown is) talking about is the leadership in that back-end. Jeez, I tell you what, Dean looks like a ready-made leader in terms of the way he plays and organises behind the ball.<\/p>\n
\u201cExperienced football guys need to be making those big decisions and it\u2019s the only way you can get some youth coming through while still being successful.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018INDISPUTABLE\u2019 PROOF THAT ROSS\u2019 SAINTS HAVE IN FACT IMPROVED<\/p>\n
Ross Lyon said last week it\u2019s \u201cindisputable\u2019 that St Kilda has improved. So, have they?<\/p>\n
Saints great Leigh Montagna put his former club under the microscope. And the evidence is compelling.<\/p>\n
They\u2019ve improved their win total (seven to nine), percentage (87 to 104), quarters won (26 to 42), times they trailed at three-quarter time (10 to two) and time in front (32 per cent to 61 per cent).<\/p>\n
Digging a little deeper into mechanics, Lyon\u2019s Saints have also gotten better in all three phases.<\/p>\n
They\u2019ve made gains in points for (ranked 12th to eighth), score inside 50 percentage (seventh to fourth), defensive 50 to inside 50 (16th to ninth), points against (13th to eighth), score inside 50 against (16th to 10th), clearance differential (eighth to fourth) and points clearance differential (14th to sixth).<\/p>\n
\u201cThe one I think people forget about last year is there were 10 games last year at three-quarter when they were trailing by 19 points or more \u2014 essentially game over,\u201d he said on First Crack: Preview.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly twice this year have they been in that situation.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can see with time in front, they\u2019ve been in games for much longer than they were last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think people forget how far back they have come from. But they\u2019re certainly making some progress.\u201d<\/p>\n
Is it time for a Mental Health Round? | 01:02<\/p>\n
Montagna said the improvement at clearance is the \u201cmost significant\u201d amid a changing of the guard of St Kilda\u2019s midfield.<\/p>\n
Last year, Rowan Marshall, Jack Steele, Jack Macrae and Marcus Windhager led the club\u2019s CBA\u2019s. Whereas this year, it\u2019s been headed by a younger group of Tom De Koning Max Hall, Hugo Garcia and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a number of years Ross was talking about taking a knife to a gun fight in the midfield. They couldn\u2019t get the job done in there and it was putting them on the backfoot,\u201d Montagna added.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know now about the names \u2026 it\u2019s gone from an average age of 28 to an average age of 23. <\/p>\n
\u201cNot only are they component matching it with the best midfielders in the competition, they\u2019re actually thriving and taking it right up to them.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Saints Hall of Famer concluded it\u2019s \u201cindisputable\u201d that the club has improved, but says it must \u201cvalidate\u201d that by defeating Carlton and playing finals.<\/p>\n
\u201cOtherwise it will be a disappointing year if they miss out,\u201d Montagna said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSaints fans will have every right to expect more improvement and no doubt they need to continue to get more talent in.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut they are making steps. It might not be to the level some people were hoping for.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anderson backs in Dimma despite rumours | 01:22<\/p>\n
AFL\u2019S MOST IMPROVED PLAYER LEAVING FANS \u2018VERY, VERY NERVOUS\u2019<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a reason breakout Demon Tom Sparrow has been in high demand from rival clubs with big-money offers. <\/p>\n
Sparrow is the AFL\u2019s most improved player from 2025 to 2026, flourishing with an expanded midfield role under Steven King. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s a list rounded out by West Coast\u2019s Bailey Williams, who was also out of contract, Brisbane forwards Charlie Cameron and Kai Lohmann and St Kilda\u2019s Hugo Garcia.<\/p>\n
As for Sparrow, the 26-year old\u2019s contract year couldn\u2019t have come at a better time in a career-best season. <\/p>\n
He\u2019s averaged personal bests across the board in his eighth campaign in disposals (22.8 per game), tackles (6.5, ranked third in AFL) and clearances (5.6) as a mainstay in Melbourne\u2019s midfield following the departures of Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s numbers good enough to make the premiership Demon the game\u2019s No. 27 rated player this year after he was No. 27 last year. <\/p>\n
But the free agent, originally from South Australian, remains unsigned amid interest from Port Adelaide and Essendon.<\/p>\n
Mitchell re-signs with Hawks until 2030 | 00:42<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cTom Sparrow is the big one. This is why Melbourne fans and the football club are very, very nervous about losing Tom Sparrow,\u201d Saints great Leigh Montana said on First Crack: Preview.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause all of a sudden you give him an opportunity in his eighth year of footy to be a midfielder, he\u2019s elevated to a top 30 player in the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s big concerns they may lose him to Port Adelaide at the end of the season. So, that would be a massive blow.<\/p>\n
\u201cHave a think about your own club and if there\u2019s a player that, if given the opportunity to play in a more expansive role, what impact they could have.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Tom Sparrow has benefited from no Petracca or Oliver.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the rival interest, chief Herald Sun reporter Jay Clark says Melbourne is \u201cconfident\u201d Sparrow will recommit to the club.<\/p>\n
\u201cMail from Melbourne is they\u2019re confident he\u2019s staying.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s despite a massive offer from Port Adelaide. I think you can put a line through Essendon.\u201d<\/p>\n
AFL\u2019s most improved players<\/p>\n
1. Tom Sparrow – ranked No. 282 in 2025, No. 27 in 2026 (+255)<\/p>\n
2. Bailey Williams – ranked No. 324 in 2025, No. 82 in 2026 (+242)<\/p>\n
3. Charlie Cameron – ranked No. 308 in 2025, No. 78 in 2026 (+230)<\/p>\n
4. Kai Lohmann – ranked No. 332 in 2025, No. 123 in 2026 (+209)<\/p>\n
5. Hugo Garcia – ranked No. 239 in 2025, No. 35 in 2026 (+204) <\/p>\n
AFL ROUND 22 FIXTURE AND FOX FOOTY COMMENTATORS (all times AEST)<\/p>\n
WESTERN BULLDOGS v NORTH MELBOURNE<\/p>\n
Thursday August 6, 7:30pm at Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 6:30pm on Channel 504, hosted by Sarah Jones, Jason Dunstall, David King, Leigh Montagna, with commentary from Matt Hill, Mark Howard, Jack Riewoldt, Cameron Mooney, Eddie Betts & Jon Ralph<\/p>\n
FREMANTLE v WESTERN BULLDOGS<\/p>\n
Friday August 7, 7:40pm at the Gabba<\/p>\n
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 6.30pm on Channel 504, hosted by Garry Lyon, Jonathan Brown, Tom Hawkins, Jordan Lewis, with commentary from Anthony Hudson, Gerard Whateley, Jason Dunstall, Alastair Lynch & Jon Ralph<\/p>\n
MELBOURNE v FREMANTLE<\/p>\n
Saturday August 8, 1:15pm at the MCG<\/p>\n
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 12:30pm on Channel 504, with commentary from Leigh Montagna, Jason Dunstall, Michael Voss & Sarah Jones<\/p>\n
SYDNEY v PORT ADELAIDE<\/p>\n
Saturday August 8, 4:25pm at the SCG<\/p>\n
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 4pm on Channel 503, with commentary from Dwayne Russell, Jordan Lewis, Gerard Healy & Alastair Lynch<\/p>\n
GEELONG v ESSENDON<\/p>\n
Saturday August 8, 4:35pm at GMHBA Stadium<\/p>\n
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 4:30pm on Channel 504, with commentary from Anthony Hudson, Brad Johnson, Tom Hawkins & Ruby Schleicher<\/p>\n
ADELAIDE v RICHMOND<\/p>\n
Saturday August 8, 7:35pm at Adelaide Oval<\/p>\n
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 7:15pm on Channel 504, with commentary from Mark Howard, Jack Riewoldt, Mark Ricciuto, Shaun Burgoyne & Jay Clark<\/p>\n
GWS GIANTS v GOLD COAST SUNS<\/p>\n
Sunday August 9, 1:10pm at Corroboree Group Oval Manuka<\/p>\n
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 12:45pm on Channel 504, with commentary from Corbin Middlemas, Gerard Healy, Alastair Lynch, Ben Dixon & David Zita<\/p>\n
WEST COAST EAGLES v COLLINGWOOD<\/p>\n
Sunday August 9, 4:10pm at Optus Stadium<\/p>\n
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 4pm on Channel 504, with commentary from Adam Papalia, Dwayne Russell, Brad Johnson, David King, Will Schofield, Kath Loughnan & David Zita<\/p>\n
ST KILDA v CARLTON<\/p>\n
Sunday August 9, 7:20pm at Marvel Stadium<\/p>\n
How to watch on Fox Footy: From 7pm on Channel 504, with commentary from Adam Papalia, Dwayne Russell, Brad Johnson, David King, Will Schofield, Kath Loughnan & David Zita<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There are growing doubts on Brisbane\u2019s premiership defence, as a great calls for \u201cradical\u201d change. Plus debate over…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":844910,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[560],"tags":[638,64,63,55,639,85],"class_list":["post-844909","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-afl","tag-afl","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australian-football-league","tag-australianfootballleague","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/844909","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=844909"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/844909\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/844910"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=844909"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=844909"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=844909"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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