If Carlton's key defenders Jacob Weitering and Harry Dean were placed in a sitcom, the premise would be perfectly poised; they are the odd couple.
Dean is the young, energetic oddball; Weitering is the old, seasoned "grump". Together they are the unlikely friends who also form what is fast becoming the best defensive duo in the league.
Both Dean (20 disposals at 80 per cent efficiency, 11 intercepts) and Weitering (18 disposals at 89 per cent efficiency, 10 intercepts) shone in the Wildcard Final win over Melbourne on Saturday night.
Speaking ahead of the Blues' Elimination Final with Geelong, the outgoing 18-year-old Dean spoke about his partnership with the 28-year-old Weitering.
"I don't think he'd want to hang out with me outside (of football)," Dean said with a grin.
"It's pretty cool to play with your favourite player growing up. Having Jacob there, just his presence and his leadership is really strong for the team as well, but I think it just comes from the whole backline. The amount of energy and fun we bring to it. It just helps me a lot and helps everyone.
"I find it a bit funny that some blokes have kids, and I've just got drafted. There's a bit of an age gap, but yeah, we're totally different people. It just seems to work on the field and at the club.
"He's been really good for me, Jacob."
Dean is the boisterous young buck of the Carlton changeroom, while Weitering looms like the wise old Silverback Gorilla watching on.
Weitering's style is much more reserved, albeit just as competitive, when compared to Dean. But the Herculean-built defender said he appreciates the energy his young apprentice brings to the side.
"I honestly won't take any credit for what he's been able to produce," Weitering said.
"He was already an unbelievable junior footballer, and obviously had a fantastic top age year, and other than a few bits and bobs here, in terms of how to play certain forwards, he's just gone out and played on instinct, and that's the best thing as a young guy.
"You don't have any brain fog; you're just going out and playing football, and you've seen it with our young kids.
"My wife showed me a quote of James Hird, I think it was, who said, '(Dean is) going to be better than Weitering', and I couldn't agree more; he's halfway there already, and it's only his first year."
The pair have had similar starts to their respective careers. Weitering was taken with Pick 1 in the 2015 National Draft; 10 years later, Dean was plucked with Pick 3.
Unlike most key defenders in their first season, the duo also adapted to the level immediately, with Weitering playing 20 games in 2016 and Dean currently one better on 21.
An All-Australian and best-and-fairest winner, Weitering admits it's 'tough to get me to smile', but his new partner in crime seems like the type of character who can break the star veteran Blue.
"(Dean) is one of the stranger teammates you'll come across," he said.
"Some things (he does) you probably can't say. But again, he's just the ultimate competitor. And that's on and off the field, if that gives you a bit of an insight.
"You've seen it out on the field with obviously how the fans react to him, but internally, he is incredibly valued by us as a person and as a teammate. He's got a long career ahead of him; 15-20 years of being a fullback at Carlton.
"He's just got that grit, and that determination, and competitiveness. Fairly quickly he is becoming a bit of a cult figure. Again, I'll mention that very first contest (on Saturday night).
"You saw how many guys reacted in a fair way in flying the flag for (Dean when he was decked), and there's probably one guy you don't want to rile up during a game of football, and it's Deany.
"Not only is he intercepting and spoiling and doing his job, but the boys actually love him as a teammate, as a person, and I'm pretty fortunate to hopefully play out the rest of my career alongside him."
