It’s been a frustrating month for Carlton young gun Patrick Cripps.

The first year Blue suffered a fractured leg last month, playing for Carlton’s VFL affiliate the Northern Blues.

It’s kept the 19-year-old on the sidelines for the past six weeks, after what was a promising start to his AFL career with two senior appearances for Carlton.

Now, close to his return from injury, Cripps caught up with carltonfc.com.au for an update on his first year in the AFL.


You’re finally off the crutches, how are you feeling?

Cripps: It’s been frustrating! Obviously you don’t like to be injured, but the boys have been really good and I’ve started running again now, so hopefully I’ll be back soon. The worst of it’s over now anyway.

What have you been up to while recovering?

Cripps: I went back home for a week and went back up to the farm in Northampton for a few days to see the family. That really helped me freshen up and helped my recovery in terms of my mental space. It was good to get home.

What’s been the most surprising thing about your first year at Carlton so far?

Cripps: I didn’t know what to expect when I first came to the club, but now I feel used to the AFL environment and part of the group. I love it over here and I’m glad I’m at Carlton.

The most surprising thing has probably been the diet – you have to be so careful. To back up each week you have to do a lot of things right.

The training load was also a shock initially. I knew it was going to be tough, but until I got in and trained with the boys and did the pre-season – you can’t really prepare yourself for it.

Dale Thomas is your mentor, how has he helped you?

Cripps: Daisy has been awesome as a mentor. With the injury it has been pretty tough, but he’s been shooting me a text at least once a week to see how I’m travelling.

In terms of footy I watch a bit of vision with him and analyse his game. When I was playing earlier in the year he was giving me tips on certain running patterns and things like that. He’s been terrific.

What’s been the hardest part about being sidelined and when will you be back?

Cripps: Definitely not being able to be out there with the boys. I suffered a similar injury two years ago, so I knew what to expect in physical terms, but it’s really hard to watch from the sidelines when you just want to be playing.

Hopefully I’ll be back for the VFL game against Collingwood and then go from there. I’ll be focusing on trying to get some match fitness and form, and then hopefully push for senior selection later in the year.