"LIFE'S in a good spot."

With his 200th game around the corner, Patrick Cripps is content with how things are going both on and off the field.

As baby Koda joined in on the team song for the first time, and Cripps himself pushing career-best form, it's no surprise that the Carlton captain wants to keep the good times rolling.

This is what he had to say when he joined AFL 360.

On Koda being in the song for the first time:

“Everyone who’s had kids, those moments in the circle singing the song is the best. [The playing group] has got a fair few coming in the next six months as well, so there’s going to be a Carlton army next year.

“She loves the social interaction stuff. The noisier it is, the calmer she is. In the circle, you never know — some kids cry and kick up a stink, but she was just taking it all in which is nice.”

On the photo from Michael Willson from the weekend:

“My family sent me it, it’s a pretty cool photo. It’s something you don’t really know when the moment happens. I was just happy I kicked the goal.”

On how things are placed:

“Life’s in a good spot. Winning helps, definitely. The little one is sleeping, so that’s two ticks. I’ve been at the other end of things at this time of year, so it’s really appreciating this moment. 

“When you’ve got a team that’s in sync, loves playing with each other and is enjoying it, playing the right way, you just try and enjoy that time. We’re in that phase at the moment where we feel like we’re in a good spot. We feel like we’ve got a few levels to go, but when you’re in those moments and been through some tough periods before you really soak it in and take it for what it is.

On how he’s finding his footy:

“It’s a bit of a combination when you’re playing with a side with a lot of trust and there’s a lot of cohesion, you’re just out there to do a role. 

“My role is the contest and winning clearances: that’s the basis of it, everything else flows from that. I’m in a nice spot individually, but we feel like we’ve got a lot of guys in form in the team.”

On if he’s feeling the best he’s ever felt:

“I’d say at this point of the year, definitely. Sometimes you need a bit of luck, knocks can take away your consistency in training. I’ve been lucky for most of the year to have a pretty clean run. It’s a combination of everything, I’ve put a lot of work into my body in the last couple of years which has set my year up with the off-season and pre-season. 

“When you win, you tend to recover better. When you win and you’re in the rooms, you’re buzzing around, the first day or two you’re still high on life after a win. There’s something in that I reckon. 

“You just try and absorb it: when you’re in form as a team, you try and keep momentum coming.”

On the team’s progression in recent seasons:

“It takes time. When you’re evolving and maturing as a side, you can’t go from the bottom to the top just like that. It takes lessons, two steps forward and one step back. When you think of 12 months ago, we were out of the eight and trying to find out who we were as a side. 

“It can change quickly when you get the momentum and what it feels like to be good. Then you factor in form of guys, confidence of guys, injuries . . . you can’t underestimate the consistency and cohesion of your 22 consistently out there. In the last five weeks, we’ve had that. 

“We’ve tinkered with tweaks of our game plan, rather than personnel coming in and out.”

On how the team is performing:

“Our defence at the moment is keeping us in games. We’re happy to be in an arm wrestle. We know when we play the best teams, it’s generally going to be an arm wrestle. To Richmond’s credit, their pressure was first class in the first half. 

“They probably had us in the back end of the second quarter and went in with the momentum at half time, but the last five weeks, it’s been pretty consistent that we’ve been able to weather their momentum and when we get a chance, we put the foot down and put scoreboard pressure on. 

“That’s the most pleasing thing. It’s coming off the back of our defence, you’re not going to have momentum for the whole game. When you don’t have it, how can you hold up? When you do have it, how can you put the foot down? 

“I feel like we’re running out games really well at the moment, which is probably the most pleasing thing in the five-week patch.”

On this week’s clash with GWS:

“We played the Giants earlier in the year and they were undefeated when we played them, so their best footy stacks up. It’s a pretty tough task going up there. 

“We’re confident and we’re excited about continuing our momentum. They’re coming off the back of a loss, so we know they’ll be hungry. It’s going to be a fierce contest.”

On his take on holding the ball:

“It’s around the new interpretation. It’s not a crack at the umpires, it’s what’s being coached. The arm being pinged, it’s automatically a holding the ball if you don’t get rid of it. My thing is, if people don’t have prior and they have the arm pinged, it should be a quick ball-up. 

“The thing that I feel like needs to be coached in the game more is incorrect disposal and dropping the ball, even if you make an attempt. For me, that should be the rule we get after with holding the ball. 

“The one with the arm pinged, I feel like at the moment you have to get rid of it and it’s causing players to hook people’s legs: you train that, because you see it’s getting free kicks. We’re talking about de-risking concussion, but if you’ve pinged someone’s arms, you’re cutting their legs and they fall, you’ve got no protection. That’s the grey area I’m thinking with that rule. 

“I’m thinking increasing holding the ball, but more incorrect disposal and dropping the ball.

“We encourage players to win the ball. What I don’t want to see is me and [Jeremy Howe] are running towards the ball, and we both don’t want to pick it up because we’re rewarding the tackler more than the guy winning the ball. I feel like the umpires are getting a really rough end, I feel like we’re talking about them every week. These one aren’t the umpires’ fault. I feel like it’s how we’re interpreting the rules.”