“IT’S NOT long now.”

With tomorrow marking five weeks until the AFL season opener, Carlton co-captain Patrick Cripps feels primed and ready to go.

Cripps joined the team from SEN Breakfast on Wednesday morning to shed more light on his pre-season so far, which has seen him return to his playing weight of 2018 and 2019 after shoulder surgery.

After attempting to add to his running game last season, Cripps conceded “it didn’t quite go to plan” and he was focusing his attention on becoming the out-and-out midfield bull of years gone by.

Now back in full contact training, Cripps said he had a clear aim for the summer of 2020-21.

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How's pre-season tracking for Patrick Cripps?

Carlton co-captain Patrick Cripps joined Garry and Tim from SEN Breakfast to discuss all things Navy Blue this summer.

“I tried something different last year but it didn’t quite go to plan, so I went back to my old ways,” Cripps said.

“I was probably playing three or four kilos lighter and it was probably more my upper body: I tried to cover the ground more. I was trying to improve my running capacity but I probably lost my strength around the contest a little bit, and that’s my one wood.

“I thought I’d get back to doing that and get guys like Sam Walsh to run around me — it sounds like a better plan I reckon!”

Cripps completed his recovery and conditioning block while back in Western Australia before Christmas, returning for pre-season at Ikon Park alongside the other senior players in the second week of January.

Relishing the chance of a rare extended break, Cripps said he had seen the progression of the Club’s younger players upon his return to Ikon Park.

He said his teammates were beginning to understand the intricacies of what does and doesn’t work in pre-season.

“It’s hard to explain the difference but when you’ve been around the system for a few years, you know the minor changes and how they affect your play,” he said.

“I’m feeling strong and fit and I’m looking forward to seeing how the team goes, I know a lot of the younger guys have put on a bit of size too.

“They’re getting to that age in their third, fourth or fifth year where they know what it takes physically and mentally to play AFL footy, so it’s exciting.”