PATRICK Cripps’ standout 2018 continued at the weekend in the eyes of the coaches.
For the 11th time this season, Cripps polled in the Shadforth Financial Group AFLCA Champion Player of the Year award and is now placed in second position with just two games remaining.
Cripps was the highest-ranked Blue in Sunday’s loss to Fremantle, polling five votes for his 32-disposal, eight-clearance game at the weekend. He leapfrogged Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn into second position.
It means Cripps is four votes behind Hawthorn’s Tom Mitchell (87 votes) as the home-and-away season approaches its final fortnight.
He was one of two Blues to poll, with Dale Thomas (one vote) joining him. Fremantle’s Lachie Neale received the perfect 10.
The inside bull is aiming to become the first Carlton player to be crowned Champion Player of the Year since Marc Murphy in 2011. The captain is the only Blue to ever win the award since its inception 15 years ago.
It’s not the only piece of history which Cripps is vying for in the next two weeks.
Currently sitting on 352 contested possessions, Cripps needs 34 from the final two weeks to match Patrick Dangerfield’s record set last year. Carlton’s No.9 is only three shy from breaking his own personal best set in 2016.
Most contested possessions after 20 matches of a season
— Swamp (@sirswampthing) August 13, 2018
352 PATRICK CRIPPS 2018
338 Patrick Dangerfield 2017
333 Patrick Dangerfield 2012
332 Josh Kennedy 2012
332 Clayton Oliver 2018
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