A PROVIDER of perspective.

A dad-to-be in the very near future, the Good Friday SuperClash is a timely reminder for Patrick Cripps about what he can do in his position as a star of the game.

With Cripps and wife Mon about to welcome a baby girl, the Carlton captain spent late last week at the Royal Children’s Hospital with a number of his teammates, providing joy to the real heroes in Parkville.

When speaking to AFL 360, Cripps said this week’s game - his and Carlton’s second Good Friday SuperClash - was one he looked forward to as soon as the fixture was announced.

“It’s one of my favourite games to play in. It was our first one last year, and we’ve had a great mate go through his own battles, so seeing that first hand gives you greater perspective,” Cripps said.

“We spoke about it [on Monday] and ‘Vossy’ touched on it at training. A few of us were lucky enough to go to the Children’s Hospital last week and visit some kids.

“To see what they’re going through and their families, to go and give up a bit of your time to put a smile on faces and cheer them up, the energy they express — they show a lot of gratitude and thanks. As much as we’re going there to put a smile on their faces, we get so much back from it.

“It just makes you smile . . . it’s what it’s all about.”

While all attention is currently on the Good Friday game, Gather Round is right around the corner — plus a particular date that has been circled on the Cripps’ calendar for a little while.

What’s the game plan for the Crippses when the baby arrives?

“We’ve got a week to go. Gather Round is going to be a tricky little time slot! We’re having a little girl in about a week: it’s all about to change for us, which is exciting.

“I’m going to travel a little bit later than the team just in case, and we fly back that night after we played. We’re all prepared, but from everyone’s advice, you can be prepared as you want but you never actually know until it happens.

“I’ll definitely come back for [the birth].”