PATRICK Cripps has topped the votes in a Carlton clean sweep on Friday night.
Six Blues shared the votes from the coaches in the resounding 63-point win, with Cripps moving into sixth place on the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year leaderboard in the process.
Nobody had more than Cripps’ 41 disposals on Friday night, just one shy of his career best, while he also had 14 clearances in his nine-vote performance.
Cripps’ work around the stoppage was so prolific that the skipper didn’t take one mark among his 41 disposals, instead dominating when the ball was in live play.
He was expertly supported by Tom De Koning and Sam Walsh at the centre bounce, with De Koning in particular a worthy option to be the best player on the ground.
"It was a pleasant surprise, I loved the battle against him.
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) June 23, 2024
"I was like 'this is going to be great'."
TDK never saw it coming, but he loved every second of his battle with brother Sam!
Opposed to brother Sam, De Koning had another 25 disposals and a career-high 20 contested possessions, setting the tone for the Blues at the source to poll seven votes.
His efforts were matched by Walsh, who had another 33 disposals, a final-quarter goal and a game-high 640 metres gained. With another seven votes, he’s moved to 53 for the season, now sitting in ninth place — five behind Cripps as the top-rated Blue.
A five-goal haul for Charlie Curnow - his first of the year - netted four votes, while Alex Cincotta’s role on Tom Stewart was another scalp for the newfound tagger, recording two votes from Michael Voss and Brad Scott.
Rounding things out was Matthew Kennedy, who polled a vote for an underrated showing in the middle which yielded 31 disposals and a goal.
Round 15 votes
9 - Patrick Cripps (CARL)
7 - Tom De Koning (CARL)
7 - Sam Walsh (CARL)
4 - Charlie Curnow (CARL)
2 - Alex Cincotta (CARL)
1 - Matthew Kennedy (CARL)
