REWARD for effort and application.
Carlton’s three newest leaders were fully deserving of their recent additions, according to two men who know more than most.
Speaking about the inclusions of Liam Jones, Sam Walsh and Jacob Weitering to the leadership group, Patrick Cripps and Sam Docherty were delighted for their counterparts.
Cripps said that leadership qualities had all come naturally to the trio.
“Why they got in is because of the standards they live,” Cripps said.
“The standards they set at training really caught myself and Doc’s eye, as well as the playing group.
“When you’re a young guy coming in, you always look at the leaders and watch how they train and how they prepare.”
Docherty echoed Cripps’ sentiments about the trio, who have all spent time as part of the Emerging Leaders program at Ikon Park.
With the current co-captains having spent time in the program themselves, Docherty said it was the perfect way to integrate them into leadership roles.
“It’s been running for three or four years: we actually started in that before we began our leadership credentials,” he said.
“Those boys have been working really hard… they’re going to do a great job for our footy club leading forward.
“What they’ve been doing this pre-season has been awesome.”
While Cripps and Docherty will be at the helm, they both believe it’ll be a collective buy-in which drives the team forward in 2020 and beyond.
Labelling himself as “rapt” by the additions, Docherty said there was a clear focus on owning the future at Ikon Park.
“It’s not left up to a couple to lead this footy club forward,” he said.
“The best thing about this group is they’re all really passionate about leadership and really passionate about where this football club is going.”
