ON THE back of a performance which saw him post another personal best, Patrick Cripps was more drawn to the maturity of his playing group rather than his individual showing following the Round 3 win.
Going one better than his career-high number posted late last season, Cripps accumulated 42 disposals against GWS at Giants Stadium, willing himself to the ball at every contest to set his team up for a 10-point victory.
His 20 contested possessions and 13 clearances was indicative of the typical physicality he displayed at the coalface: however, when asked about his showing by FOX Footy post-match, Cripps had just three words before passing on praise to his wider team.
“We’ll take it,” Cripps said on his career-best numbers.
“I thought it was a good midfield performance. Our strength is around stoppage and I feel like we got some ascendancy around there today.”
The Blues were challenged by a Giants side out to respond following a loss last weekend, and while the game looked to be in the visitors’ favour, a late flurry saw the home side hit the lead.
Late goals from Jesse Motlop and Charlie Curnow - plus some crucial defensive acts - meant the Blues emerged with a narrow victory for the second straight week.
For the captain, it was a sign of further maturity from the team.
“They’re a good side and we knew it was going to be tough coming up here,” he said.
“The way they hit the front, but we fought back and then to hold on late — we’ve been working on that, it’s been a big growth area.
“It takes maturity to win on the road, especially when you’re up and they come back to hit the front, to find a way back. It’s huge growth for us.”
Michael Voss has credited the Blues' grit to overturn losing the lead late and come away from Giants Stadium with a second consecutive win.
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) April 1, 2023
Watch the full post-match presser below. 🎥
Crediting the swap of Sam Docherty into the midfield and Adam Cerra to half-back, Cripps admitted the four points were welcome ones — but the Blues would get to work after lamenting some missed opportunities going forward.
“It was just that finishing touch,” he said.
“They move the ball really well from their back half, so to shut that down, we made a few moves. ‘Doc’ came into the midfield to help us out with a little bit of run,” he said.
“It was just that finishing touch [that let the team down.
“We could’ve put the game away early in the third with our goalkicking . . . big Charles had some composure to bang one home and make it a bit easier for us.”
