Blues’ worst fears avoided as major update on condition of hospitalised Origin star revealed

Carlton’s worst fears have been alleviated with the club confirming star defender Jacob Weitering has been cleared of any neck, spinal or major internal injury after being stretchered off in Victoria’s State of Origin victory against Western Australia on Saturday night.

The club released a statement on Sunday morning that said the 28-year-old has some soreness in the chest area, which requires further assessment, but he has been discharged from hospital and will return home to Melbourne today.

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Carlton will be able to provide an update on Weitering’s recovery timeline by the middle of the week after he has been furthered assessed by the Blues’ medical staff.

“First and foremost we are grateful Jacob is okay and has been cleared of any major injury - it is a positive outcome given the circumstances,” Carlton’s GM of Football Chris Davies said.

“While Jacob is feeling sore this morning, he has avoided significant damage, so we will manage him as needed while we ramp up our preparations for the start of the season.

“Although that moment in the game was unfortunate, it does not take away from the fact that our football club is incredibly proud of both Jacob and Patrick (Cripps) for earning the honour to represent their respective states.

“It is a fantastic career achievement that both Jacob and Patrick can hold deer to them for the remainder of their careers.”

Weitering was crushed under the bodies of Western Australia’s Mitch Georgiades and Victorian teammate Sam Collins after a marking contest at half-forward during the first quarter.

Victorian coach Chris Scott conveyed the severity of the situation in his post-match press conference.

“What we’ve decided to do from here is allow Carlton to give the update — they’ve been well informed,” Scott said in Perth on Saturday night.

“Our understanding is it’s serious enough that you need to be updated on it — he’s going to miss a period of time, I’d think.

“But I wouldn’t like to say any more than that out of respect for Carlton.”

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Play between the two sides was halted for several minutes while the 28-year-old gun interceptor was tended to by medical staff.

Weitering was placed in a neck brace while being stretchered off the field, with initial fears of a concussion and possible neck injury.

However, as the second quarter got underway, Fox Footy’s Kath Loughnan provided an update that Weitering was hospital-bound with his shoulder and ribs the main concerns.

“He is going to hospital as a precaution for his ribs and that left shoulder,” Loughnan said in the second quarter.

“It was nearly probably 200 kilos falling on him and that left shoulder and his head. So, fingers crossed for Jacob Weitering.”

Victoria chairman of selectors and Fox Footy analyst Garry Lyon provided a somewhat reassuring half-time update.

“Jacob Weitering we hope is going to be OK, he was in the hospital asking about the scores, so I think it’s precautionary, but it puts to rest any notion that these boys weren’t going to go flat-out,” he said.

“He’s down. He’s out,” Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall said in immediate reaction on Fox Footy.

Brisbane icon Jonathan Brown added: “Heavy landing … full weight of Collins and Georgiades onto him, hopefully his shoulder is OK.”

Caller Anthony Hudson said what everyone was thinking: “It’s what we all feared.”

Dunstall later said: “It looks like a serious concussion, doesn’t it? … We don’t like seeing any sort of concussion, but if there’s going to be one, let’s hope it’s at the lower end.”

Brown responded: “There’s a head aspect, but the way he landed on his shoulder as well, you hope that he hasn’t done any structural damage to his left shoulder.

“It’s about 200 kilos coming down on top of him.”

The 204-game All-Australian has been a durable commodity for the Blues in recent years, playing 22 or more games in four of the past five seasons.

Carlton kicks off its 2026 campaign against Richmond at the MCG on March 12.

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