AT THE end of the 2023 season, there was one person that immediately sprung to mind for Jack Carroll to reach out to. 

Fortunately, it’s someone he’s done a lot of work with in the past — and he just so happens to be the captain of the football club.

Ever since Carroll at the Blues in the 2020 AFL Draft, Patrick Cripps has taken the young midfielder under his wing. As an inside midfielder from the Mid West region in WA, how could he not?

Speaking after his performance on Thursday night in the Round 1 win over Richmond, Carroll detailed the work he did with Cripps over the off-season which has set him up to hopefully take his game to a new level in 2024.

“I sat down with ‘Crippa’ at the very start, and we spoke about things that needed to go to another level. What we targeted was my speed and power, and that came from in the gym as well as some springs training in the off-season,” Carroll told Carlton Media.

“I spent most of my off-season with ‘Crippa’, and he also got me doing some programs outside of footy which are good for performance confidence. I went after them.

“I think he looks at me like a little brother! We’ve done a fair bit of work together now, for a few years. He’s just happy to see it slowly paying off, and I feel like I’m more well-equipped now to play consistent footy.”

Cripps mentioned on Channel 7’s Roaming Brian that, now in his fourth year, Carroll has well and truly done his footballing apprenticeship. That exposure to senior football has come in the last fortnight, where he had a big impact as sub against Brisbane and followed that up with a full midfield game in Round 1 versus Richmond.

After five games in 2022 (he also had one as sub in 2023), the last two games were crucial for Carroll’s psyche, in proving that he belonged at the level. 

With 20 disposals against the Tigers, Thursday night’s win went a long way to proving that.

“I got a little taste of it in Opening Round, and the feedback behind that was really good: I came in and impact, and kicking that goal was a nice moment. This week, being upgraded into the starting team, was a bit of reward for it.

“It was definitely good in terms of feeling that I belong, and to see that the coaches and the other mids trusted me. In 2022 I was basically playing solely up forward, sometimes as a high forward that came up to the stoppages, but now it’s been proper midfield minutes.

“Midfield is probably my best position, but we’ve got some pretty handy players in there! I’ve had to bide my time.

“To be honest, as soon as I was in the game, it didn’t feel different to any other game compared to other footy. I just felt like I belonged, but I was out there playing footy and focusing on the simple things.”

The only bittersweet component about Carroll’s call-up is the way it came about, coming following the unfortunate news that midfielder Sam Docherty ruptured his ACL against the Lions in Opening Round.

Carroll was subbed on for his locker-room neighbour that night, with coaches and players alike looking at the youngster as one of many who could potentially fill the void left by a heart-and-soul member of the playing group.

“It’s definitely unfortunate. It’s not the way you want to get your opportunity, with ‘Doc’ going down.

“I’m going to do everything I can to make the most of the chance.”