CARLTON co-captain Patrick Cripps said watching September action only leaves him more motivated to bring success back to Ikon Park.

Having returned after an off-season trip to Europe with teammates, Cripps has returned in the middle of finals fever well and truly taking over Melbourne.

Saying he doesn’t “particularly like” seeing other teams still in action, Cripps said he would watched the next fortnight of action with a hunger to achieve that in Navy Blue.

Speaking to SEN’s Garry Lyon and Tim Watson, Cripps said watching finals action was a source of motivation and hunger.

“The look of finals footy is awesome: you can’t help but be jealous watching it,” Cripps said.

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“I hope for the Carlton fans out there and all of the players that next year, we can really build on the momentum from this year.

“We want to put our best foot forward in the early part of the year and hunt towards finals, because when it’s all said and done that’s what you play for.”

When the Blues return to September action, it will be with Cripps at the helm — and if 2019 is anything to go by, leadership lends itself well to the midfield bull.

With a taste of success in the second half of the year, Cripps said he couldn’t help but get excited by what his young teammates were beginning to showcase to the football world.

“I did [enjoy the leadership]. I enjoy helping the guys get the best out of themselves,” he said.

“With such a young group that we have at the moment, these guys are just getting better so quickly.

“To see them play well, especially when you win and see the smiles on their faces… there aren’t too many things more rewarding than that I reckon.”

At this time of year, the conversation continues to heat up around the off-season and who will be trading places come the beginning of the player movement period.

Cripps said he and his fellow leaders had full faith in the Club’s list management team to put the Blues in a strong position for 2020.

“It’s good to have players wanting to come to your club: we haven’t really had that since I’ve been here,” he said.

“I suppose when a big club in Melbourne gets going, players from the outside look at it and want to come. That’s what we want.

“The list management team in terms of SOS (Stephen Silvagni) and Mick Agresta are all across it.”