Youngsters keen to give Lions the Blues
CARLTON talls Charlie Curnow and Jacob Weitering are heading to sunny Brisbane with plans to steal the thunder from Lions rivals Eric Hipwood and Josh Schache.
While the Brisbane forwards have been the talk of the football world, providing beacons of hope to fans of the struggling club, the Blues duo intend to stamp their own authority on the competition, says teammate Matthew Wright.
The four rising stars will come face to face at the Gabba on Sunday, with Curnow in the Blues attack, alongside Wright, and defender Weitering down the other end with Hipwood and Schache.
All four are graduates from the 2015 national draft – Weitering taken with the No.1 pick, Schache at two, Curnow at 12 and Hipwood at 14.
While Weitering has been a hit since debuting in round one last year, predominantly down back, Curnow is beginning to make an impact as a key forward.
He’s taken 38 marks and kicked six goals in a coming-of-age period over the past four weeks.
“We arrived at the club at the same time,” said former Crow Wright.
“To see him establish himself on the big stage, it’s been very impressive.
“You see how much they
grow in a short period of time.
“He works really hard, week to week, and it’s good he’s getting some results for it.”
Weitering is expected to match up on Schache, the pair having a history of clashing in their junior days back in Victoria.
“He gets some good forwards each week ... and embraces the challenge,” Wright said of Weitering.
“There’s always little battles within the battle. Hopefully it pans out.
“No doubt, knowing Weiters, he’s got a lot of pride, and Schache would as
well, they probably want each other just as much as we do.”
Wright, 27, has been happy to play the role of mentor to the Blues’ band of younger players since being delisted by Adelaide at the end of 2015 and given an opportunity by incoming Blues coach Brendon Bolton.
The opportunist topped the goalkicking last year and has continued on in 2017, earning himself a contract extension for 2018.
“The belief they (the Blues) had in me gave me a lot of confidence to come over and get settled in and play some footy,” he said.
“With some of the young boys we’ve got up there it’s good to be able to help them out.”
Despite the Blues still languishing in 16th place at 5-11, Wright believed his club was on the right track.
“I think the members and the footy public would see that we rock up each week and we’re a very hard side to play against,” he said, adding there would be plenty of pride on the line on Sunday.
“There’s going to be a bit of heat in it – two young squads that want to establish themselves. It’s going to be on from the first quarter.”