Carlton chasing answers after tactics used by North Melbourne against Patrick Cripps
The Blues are far from happy with the treatment of superstar midfielder and skipper Patrick Cripps after he was continually manhandled off the ball by North Melbourne players. But will the AFL act?
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Carlton will again raise Patrick Cripps’ treatment with the umpires this week after footage emerged of him being regularly mauled by North Melbourne midfielders in the victory over the Roos.
Carlton indicated on Monday they have had regular communication with the umpires about Cripps’ treatment, with his lack of free kicks at stoppages to be on the agenda again this week.
The Herald Sun understands the issue of Cripps being stopped from getting to the ball by players with their back to the stoppage is of particular concern.
Cripps said he would leave the discussion up to the AFL and football boss Brad Lloyd, who will clarify those decisions this week.
Cripps did not get a free kick when tackled to the ground by Jed Anderson at a stoppage, which resulted in a melee that saw him fined $750 for wrestling.
But Carlton was as aggrieved by tactics highlighted by Fox Footy’s David King on Sunday which showed North Melbourne players defending Cripps with their back to the ball.
On several occasions Cripps was effectively tackled by those players with their hands around him as they faced away from stoppages.
Yet Cripps gave away free kicks to the one he was awarded, having been given 15 free kicks for the year and having given away 17.
Carlton champion Mark Maclure told the Herald Sun on Monday if the umpires paid more genuine holding free kicks at stoppages it would help rid the game of the congestion that currently plagues the code.
Nothing to see here. Play on. Move along..... @patrickcripps pic.twitter.com/lXMYXiO6NA
— Carlton Blues Fans (@CarltonFCBlues) July 25, 2020
But he said Carlton’s midfielders also had to give Cripps more protection, which would highlight to umpires his manhandling.
“I am not happy about it. The umpires seem to let it go. What was the umpire doing? At ball ups and boundary throw-ins everyone has their arms around each other.
“We have so many stoppages in 90 minutes of football and so many of them are because the umpires won’t pay a free kick.
“Diesel Williams would have punched his opponent. He would have belted them and the umpire would have said nothing because they would have deserved it but Cripps can’t do that because he would be out for two weeks.
This looks fair for @patrickcripps doesn't it?? Happened all day!#AFLNorthBlues pic.twitter.com/TUFrVk9Uaa
— Paul Freeman (@LaFramage) July 25, 2020
“I think the AFL have a major problem running their game. Why does it take Clarko (Alastair Clarkson) to change the rules with one complaint? Why do we need two ruckmen to amble up and we call them out instead of throwing the thing in?
“If two people from one team go up it’s a free kick. How hard is it? We need to simplify the rules for the umpires.”
Carlton football boss Brad Lloyd confirmed the Blues were regularly in contact with umpires boss Grant Williams to get clarification.
“I think one of the reasons we love watching the (Marcus) Bontempelli’s and Patty Cripps for us is they are ball hunters and you like to see those guys getting a really good run at the footy without being impeded,” he said.
“When players take their eye off the contest and stare straight at that player or bear-hug them they are the things you have to watch. We will continue to have those conversations.”
Carlton coach David Teague admitted it was a challenge that Cripps had been facing for many years.
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“Look, you want your ball-winners to be able to go hunt the ball and the opposition are coming out to try to stop him,” he said.
“It’s a challenge. It’s not new this year. Patrick’s been facing that for a while and I love the way he approaches it.
“He keeps hunting the ball and attacking and taking the game on. So to his credit he keeps competing for us and that’s what we need.”
Originally published as Carlton chasing answers after tactics used by North Melbourne against Patrick Cripps