Carlton had a decision to make in 2013 and Patrick Cripps has turned into a winner

CARLTON’S choice was narrowed to two in the 2013 draft, the Blues’ recruiters under fierce pressure to find the club’s next forward line saviour.

AFL Rd 10 - Carlton v Adelaide

CARLTON’S choice was narrowed to two.

With pick No. 13 in the 2013 national draft, the Blues’ recruiting staff was under fierce pressure to find the club’s next forward line saviour.

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Former talent boss Shane Rogers had his eye on Cam McCarthy, believing the high-flying goalkicker could be something special.

But the Blues also knew their leadership stocks were low and Rogers thought there was another WA talent who, despite finishing last in the 3km time trial at the draft camp, could be a central cog.

That man was Patrick Cripps, and midway through a superb second season it looks an inspired choice.

The big-bodied clearance machine is now a short-priced favourite to win Carlton’s first Rising Star after Saturday’s three-vote performance against Port Adelaide.

He is firming as the club’s next captain every week. and is one of the Blues’ best draft picks over the past decade.

The Blues knew Cripps and McCarthy would both be available at pick No. 13 and while most clubs rated McCarthy higher, Rogers said he decided three weeks out from the draft to boldly go with the inside midfielder instead of the big man the list craved.

“I knew straight away from almost the first meeting with him he was potentially a captain if he was going to be a good enough player,” Rogers told the Herald Sun.

“He had that aura about him that he drags people with him.

“You’d go to his games and he was in and under and winning contested footy and then he’d shoot his hands up and get his hands above his head.

“Lots of kids can do that part but they can’t find a target with their hands. His hands are the best I’ve seen in a long time, he can see things others can’t.”

Cam McCarthy in good form for GWS.

McCarthy was taken the next pick and has slotted 29 goals for Greater Western Sydney this year, but Cripps’ 2015 output has his entire draft class beaten.

Rogers nicknamed Cripps “The Extractor” in 2013 and said on draft night the Blues believed they could find a young tall the next year — and they did in Kristian Jaksch.

His debut season was interrupted by a broken leg but Cripps still finished runner-up in the VFL best-and-fairest from just 10 games.

At the start of last summer, he arrived 4kg lighter and with an extra lick of pace after sourcing a sprints coach in the off-season.

With Chris Judd gone, the numbers show he has already become the club’s prime midfielder and the face of their rebuild.

“The main growth has to come from the young guys so we’ve got to drive that and we know that,” Cripps said.

“My role in the team is to win the ball and usually that’s in tight so you try and get it out to the Murphys and the Gibbs who are elite disposal users.”

Originally published as Carlton had a decision to make in 2013 and Patrick Cripps has turned into a winner