AS PRE-SEASON draws to a close, skipper Patrick Cripps is confident that the Blues can adopt the lessons learned out of the training they’ve put in.

In their final hitout of the pre-season, Carlton put on a strong display against Melbourne at Marvel Stadium, starting with Cripps in the midfield.

It provided Carlton supporters with a promising snapshot of what can built on leading into Round 1 against Richmond. 

As much as the win doesn’t phase the group, Cripps noted that any win proves that you’ve been playing the ‘right way’.

“We take a lot of confidence out of our pre-season, we had a really tough one and we had a lot of boys out on the track,” Cripps said. 

“Although these games don’t mean that much for a team like us, we feel like we’re on the way up — you always take confidence out of the wins and you want to play the right way the whole time.” 

Delivering a performance which yielded a stat line of 30 disposals, eight tackle and four goals, Cripps admitted he’s currently feeling very comfortable with his body and that the work he put in prior to the summer will hold him in good stead. 

“I’ve had a good pre-season but it all starts in the off-season: I went away and worked hard and it gives you a good base to attack pre-season,” he said. 

“I’ve just had a clean run so that always makes the difference: I feel good but it’s still only early days.” 

As for the skipper’s midfield brigade, the new Blues in George Hewett and Adam Cerra proved their skill in the centre, combining for 63 disposals and 11 clearances. 

Cripps acknowledged that the midfield duo have slotted seamlessly into the side and that they are already loved figures around IKON Park.

“It makes my job easier: they’re tough, they’re clean and they came in and just worked hard,” he said. 

“The boys love them, they get on with everyone and it’s only the start. 

“We’ve got ‘Walshy’ to add, that’s the exciting part but against arguably the best midfield in the comp, it was good to have a hitout.”