Jagga Smith and Harry Dean to make debut for Carlton. Blues to welcome up to 10 new players for opening round clash with Sydney Swans
Carlton will release star draftees Jagga Smith and Harry Dean against Sydney on Thursday, coach Michael Voss says friendships will be put aside as the Blues face Charlie Curnow for the first time.
Voss confirmed on Tuesday that midfielder Smith, who stood out over the summer and two training matches after missing 2025 with a knee injury, and Dean, who was selected third in last year’s national draft, will feature at the SCG in the season opener.
Jagga Smith is ready to make his long-awaited debut for the Blues.Credit: EddieJim
“HE [Dean] We are really impressed with the information we have received from him so far and it will be a very long partnership with Weiters. [Jacob Weitering] down there [in defence]I’m sure for a long time,” Voss said.
“Obviously Jagga, most people have seen him over the last few weeks, seen the impact he’s had on games and probably seen how valuable he’s going to be for us in the short and long term.”
Key defender Weitering is expected to line out despite suffering broken ribs in last month’s State of Origin clash in Perth.
Voss said Weitering had completed managed contact work in recent days but needed to complete “uncontrolled” contact work in Tuesday’s training and recover well to prove his fitness. The Blues only allowed the media to film warm-up moments.
Jacob Weitering is expected to take over as the pillar of Carton’s defence, despite breaking some of his ribs while playing in the State of Origin game.Credit: EddieJim
Weitering will have an important role at the SCG if he plays; The task of suppressing Curnow, his former Blues team-mate who won two Coleman medals and whom he has faced many times in training.
“We are fully aware of the capacity the guy has… he definitely has the X factor, there is no doubt about it,” Voss said.
