LEADING from the front.
Things were looking tough for the Blues come half time on Sunday, trailing by 11 points to the Roos at Marvel Stadium.
Speaking on AFL 360, Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps admitted he wanted a boost in energy as the group went into their line groups, encouraging his teammates to push the game until the last minute.
“I think controlling the energy of the breaks is so important as a leader,” Cripps said.
“We said, ‘let’s grind it out, it’s going to take 120 [minutes], it might take until the last minute to overrun them, but let’s stay present and keep the energy high.’ Then we make sure in our line groups that we debrief and come out after half time with a lot of energy.”
That was exactly what his group showed in the second half, jumping from a pressure rating of 155 to 214 after the main break.
In addition to making some structural adjustments, Cripps pointed out that energy can be contagious when everyone is committed to making it work.
“We had to up our contest game and we made a few structural changes that made the game a bit more of a contest – Cincotta went down forward and did a great job on McKercher,” he said.
“Our pressure, sometimes it’s contagious energy. The second half was very contested.”
He could very well feature once again in the Brownlow votes, having moved into second of the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year award. And while there may be excitement about him backing up his heroics from 2022, Cripps' focus is far beyond individual accolades.
When asked about being a Brownlow favourite, it was no surprise that the ever-humble Cripps changed the subject to team success.
Instead of looking at doubling his Brownlow haul, the skipper is more focused on leading his team to the end of the season, noting the future is in the team's hands.
“I have tunnel vision on the goal that we all share at the moment,” he admitted.
“We’re in a position now where it’s in our control with the teams we verse and where we are on the ladder.
“I’m excited about the opportunity we have ahead, and that’s what motivates me.”
The midfielder is at the top of his game at the moment, averaging 28 disposals and eight clearances, but the 29-year-old is also getting joy out of pinch-hitting in the ruck.
Ready to jump into the role at any moment, Cripps admitted he likes the change and has begun working on his skills with ex-teammate and ruck coach Matthew Kreuzer.
“I like doing it, it’s a bit of a change and throws the opposition off a bit as well,” he said.
“I’ve tried to learn a bit of craft as the year goes on—earlier it was just plugging a few holes—but I have tried to learn a bit about it.”
