THERE was plenty of gratitude to go with a firm message in Patrick Cripps' captain's address on the night of the 2022 John Nicholls Medal.

Prior to winning his fourth Carlton best-and-fairest award, Cripps held court at the Plenary, addressing the room from what was - in more ways than one - an AFL season to remember for the Carlton Football Club.

Below is the full transcript of what Cripps had to say: you can watch it in the player below.

It’s been a busy couple of weeks and there’s been a lot of a round of applause, but I’ve probably had enough attention the last couple of weeks. I’ll get on with thanking other people that have not only helped our footy club, but also us as players. 

First off, I’d like to thank the fans. You guys are a crazy bunch: we definitely felt your energy all year and I’m pretty sure you can see the best games we played this year were in front of big crowds and the adrenaline was high. We fed off the energy. 

We just want you to keep supporting – we’re on a journey and things in life are never linear, there are ups and downs. We’re definitely on the way up, and I just want you to get there as much as you can next year because I’m telling you right now, as a player, it does help when you support loud. 

To all the major sponsors, I won’t go through everyone, the supporters groups and people who help the Club out in some way, I just want to say thanks. We can’t run without the support that you give us so thank you so much. 

I think it’s important to thank the staff of the Carlton Football Club. We as AFL players, it’s a dream come true to play AFL but we have a lot of people, a lot of great people, that we meet through footy that not only want the best interests for us as a person but they want to get the best out of us as players, so we’re very lucky. 

I’ll start off with Lil and Tarah, our [Wellbeing and Engagement Manager] and Club Psychologist. They do a mountain of work, they deal with a lot of our issues that they make us function and they’re two of the best people I’ve ever met so thanks to Lil and Tarah. 

To the high-performance staff and [strength and conditioning] staff led by ‘Russ’ [Andrew Russell], you guys get us fit and going every year and we can’t do what we do without you. The physios led by ‘Roh’, every week we’ve got to get treatment to get up and you guys lead the way. The media and upstairs crew, led by Ness and Will, they definitely helped me out post-Brownlow with a few Gatorades in the morning, so I wouldn’t have gotten through it without them.

The analysts, especially Jacky Noble who does the stoppages, you guys do a power of work to help the coaches and you make our job as players easy. For the coaches, especially led by ‘Vossy’, you’ve had a massive impact on the group and the coaches around you. I think your biggest strength is that you’re not only a motivator of people, but you empower people to be the best that they can be. I’ve seen a lot of coaches coach with confidence and that not only flows onto us, but I saw a lot of players play with confidence this year and play career-best years, so thanks heaps. 

I think it’s pretty important to recognise where we were this time last year. Brad Lloyd as the footy manager had a pretty tricky job, we hit a bit of reset with Luke Sayers and the Board. But for you to find a way forward, get a great group of coaches to support ‘Vossy’ and the momentum we’re building this year, I think it’s really important that we acknowledge you as well, so well done.

I would’ve missed a few, but I think it’s important to the ones that a lot of people wouldn’t know. Jonny Augustin: he’s our property guy, he does a lot of stuff that no one would know but he’s an absolute legend, and thanks for all the things you do. Lastly from the staff, I’d like to thank ‘Lozza’: she’s not here today, she’s doing a course in America. Her and the massage crew and the myotherapist, they do a great job getting us up every week. She’s as passionate as they get, she runs the water, she’s got the biggest heart and all the boys absolutely love her. Loz, if you’re listening: we love you. 

I’d like to thank not only our partners and families: they’re the backbone of what we do, we can’t play high-level footy without them, and that goes to the families of the whole support staff. We choose what we do but a lot of people and a lot of families give up a lot to help us pursue a goal and a dream that takes a lot of hours and a lot of weekends in the footy season. Thank you to all the families and partners, we love you.

This is a special mention, but as a Club, we’re really focused. Especially with the VFL guys, I know there’s a lot of VFL boys here tonight which is great to see the culture of the group. I think it’s really important, I know a lot of guys love their footy at the VFL level, my little brother played there this year and to Dan O’Keefe, you’ve got a great way of building relationships with guys, you get confidence out of guys but the most important thing that you do is care. We’re going to miss you, but I know you’ve got bigger things ahead of you and you’re a big family man and I really respect that, so all the best. 

I’m going to finish speaking on the boys: I think it’s really important to acknowledge some guys here that won’t be here next year but decided to show up today, and I think it says not only a lot about them as people but about the culture of our group. You’ve been part of this journey, you’re all great blokes and I think for you guys to show up tonight is a credit not only to you guys but to the group. In all future success we have, you guys will always be a part of it. All the best to your footy journeys ahead, we actually love you, so well done. 

To the playing group, I couldn’t be prouder. I love playing footy with my mates. We cracked in hard all year, we started really hard in the off-season last year and the one thing I’ll say about this group is that through a lot of tough times, we’ve stuck together and we’re forging our way forward. I was reading a book the other day, and a line that really stood out to me was ‘sometimes you’ve got to swim through the mud to get to the clear water and the good stuff’. 

What it takes is a lot of passion, perseverance, resilience and most importantly, optimism and mates. It doesn’t mean you’re going to get there,  but what it does mean is that you’re on the right path. If you want to get anywhere in life, you have to earn it. As we saw this year, nothing in life will ever be given to you. We know we have a great opportunity ahead with the list and the high-character people we have. I have full belief in what we can do. Work hard over the break, lads – not just for you to be your best but for us to be our best. 

It’s time to make it happen, because we’re ready.