As one of the biggest midfielders in the AFL, Carlton’s Round 4 NAB Rising Star nominee Patrick Cripps says he wasn’t always that tall.
Speaking on 3AW’s Sports Today, Cripps said he shot up almost 20cm in his mid-teens.
“When I was 16, I was 170-175cm, so I had a bit of a growth spurt .. now I’m 193-194cm,” he said.
When asked what could have sparked his growth spurt, the young Western Australian joked his dad may have had something to do with it.
“The old man must have chucked in a bit of fertilizer back on the farm,” he said.
Cripps played a standout game in the Blues' win against St Kilda on Anzac Day, racking up 33 disposals, sticking 11 tackles and kicking two goals.
It seems the hard work is paying off, as Cripps has revealed that running and fitness are the main areas of his game that he has focused on improving.
“In 2012 I fractured my ankle, so I didn’t have that much lead up in terms of preparation," Cripps said.
“At the end of last year I sat down with the coaches and Juddy took me aside and told me what I needed to work on."
Cripps worked hard during the off-season and dropped 3-4kg, helping his fitness for the upcoming season.
“The more pre-seasons I get under my belt the fitter I’m going to get, so hopefully I’ll get fitter as the year goes on and hopefully my endurance can improve,” he said.
Cripps is hoping to line up against Collingwood this Friday night for the blockbuster game at the MCG.
