CARLTON is hopeful No.1 draft pick Jacob Weitering will be fit to face Collingwood on Saturday, after appearing to escape a serious shoulder injury during the Blues' win over Essendon.
Weitering hurt his right shoulder on Sunday and also copped a knock to the head when he rushed a behind in the second term.
He was left writhing in pain after the incident, and was taken from the field heavily favouring his shoulder.
He did not return to the field, and finished the game on the bench.
Carlton confirmed after the game the young defender had suffered a subluxation (partial dislocation) of his right shoulder, but was hopeful he wouldn't miss any football.
"He's had a slip of the shoulder," coach Brendon Bolton said after the Blues' 15-point win over Essendon.
"We'll assess it during the week to see how much strength he's got. We'll know a bit more in a day or two."
Bolton said the 18-year-old was very "resilient", and wouldn't be too dispirited by the injury.
"He's pretty professional for a first-year player so I'm sure he'll deal with this fine," Bolton said.
The coach however, was unable to confirm whether Weitering had failed a concussion test, after his head made contact with the shin of Bombers forward Mitch Brown.
In other injury news for the Blues, star midfielder Patrick Cripps was a late withdrawal before the first bounce with calf tightness.
Bolton said he was "pretty confident" he would be fit to face the Pies.
Jacob Weitering in pain after the second-quarter collision. Picture: AFL Media
