The Carlton Football Club began the first leg of its journey under senior coach Brendon Bolton in 2016.

After notching up seven wins for the season – three more than last year – the Blues ended up finishing 14^th on the ladder.

With the team now on a break, we’re taking a look back at each player’s year in statistics. Here’s the review for Carlton’s No. 9, Patrick Cripps:

GAMES

Season 2016: 21

Career: 44

GOALS

Season 2016: 10

Career: 16

KEY AFL STATISTICS (averages in brackets)

Disposals: 566 (26.95)

Kicks: 176 (8.38)

Marks: 68 (3.24)

Contested possessions: 354 (16.86)

Uncontested possessions: 215

Clearances: 185 (8.81) (10.24)

Tackles: 139 (6.62) 

OVERVIEW

There’s no doubting Patrick Cripps had another stellar year in the navy blue guernsey, building on his breakout 2015 season.

The 21-year-old was able to withstand the increased defensive attention from opposition teams, demonstrating his resilience, maturity and growth this year. Not only did he average 27 disposals per game, his average of nearly nine clearances per game earned him the No.1 ranking in the competition for this contested stat.

He also topped the Club in contested possessions and came second in overall disposals, while becoming the quickest league player to reach 200 clearances since the stat was recorded in 1998.

The young midfielder was named in the centre of the AFL Players’ Association’s 22Under22 team, took home the Hyundai MVP award on best-and-fairest night, and came third in the race for the John Nicholls Medal behind winner Sam Docherty and runner-up Kade Simpson.

Patrick Cripps had another dominant year in the Carlton midfield. (Photo: AFL Media)

HE SAID IT

“I feel like I have improved a lot of areas of my game this year and individually I probably felt like I had a better year this year – more consistent…but I still feel like I’ve got a lot of improvement to go.”

– Cripps speaking to Carlton Media on best-and-fairest night after being announced as third runner-up.

Watch Patrick Cripps on Discussions with Dylan

THEY SAID IT

“I’ve always said and thought it’s a privilege when you get tagged. You learn ways to beat it the more it happens. First of all you need to have the right mindset and he’s (Cripps) got that.”

- Senior coach Brendon Bolton was confident the young midfielder was learning to battle a tag after his performance against West Coast in Round 17.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT

The midfielder’s second-half performance against the West Coast Eagles was superb and almost had his team rise to victory. Cripps notched up 24 disposals in the second half, amassed a huge nine clearances, laid three tackles and kicked one goal.