AFL contract news: Carlton zeros in on Patrick Cripps extension
Forget the yearly Patrick-Cripps-to-Fremantle rumours, Carlton is about to lock away its key man on a new long-term extension.
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Carlton believes it is in the final stages of locking in a new long-term deal for Patrick Cripps, with an announcement potentially just a “few weeks” away.
Out of contract at the end of the season, the Blues co-captain is one of the brightest jewels in this year’s free agency pool.
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However, Carlton is working feverishly behind the scenes to secure a signature from the 26-year-old in a deal that could make Cripps a Blues player for life.
“We’re working through that process with him and we couldn’t be more comfortable with where that’s at,” Carlton chief executive Cain Liddle said on 3AW radio on Sunday.
“He’s as invested a player as I’ve ever seen in a football club and I speak for myself and Teaguey (senior coach David Teague) and (Carlton football boss) Brad Lloyd who have worked at multiple clubs. So I don’t think that’s going to be an issue.
“We’re working through things with his management and hopefully we’ll have something for you in the next few weeks.”
Despite being long linked to a potential return home to Perth – where he spent most of his off-season break – Cripps told the Herald Sun in February that he was “really happy” at Princes Park and well settled in Melbourne.
“It’s just about getting together and working out what’s the best way to move forward for the direction of the club in terms of length of contract and that sort of thing,” Cripps said at the time.
“I do enjoy my family and friends back home but at the same time I’m really enjoying my time at Carlton and building something from a really low base which we started at.”
After battling what was believed to be some groin soreness in the opening rounds, Cripps bounced back to produce a big performance for the Blues against Fremantle on Sunday.
A two-time All-Australian in 2018 and 2019, Cripps has served as Carlton’s co-captain alongside Sam Docherty since 2019.
Cripps last signed a two-year contract extension in mid-2018 to take him through to the end of 2021 at Carlton.
HOW POWER WOOED SWAN ALIIR
When Sydney came knocking on Port Adelaide’s door for young ruckman Peter Ladhams, it set in motion one of the trades of the year.
Except the Swans did not get their man.
Sydney, which was desperate to find a back-up for injury-stricken big man Sam Naismith, first approached to see if they were willing to part with Ladhams.
They thought he might be vulnerable after to having to fight his way back into Ken Hinkley’s side following a three-week suspension for breaching COVID-19 protocols.
Ladhams had been caught out hosting Power teammate Dan Houston and other guests at his house following Port’s Round 10 win against the Western Bulldogs.
The Power blocked the approach, but offered the Swans a solution of their own.
They said they could help deliver the NSW club Tom Hickey from West Coast – an inspired move that ultimately landed them intercept defender Aliir Aliir.
BOLSTERING THE DEFENCE
The Power had the meanest defence in 2020 as Hinkley’s side sat on top of the ladder for the whole season and went down to eventual premiers Richmond by a kick in the preliminary final.
But in the middle of 2020 the Power list management started to think how they could add to their key defender stocks.
Tom Jonas, Tom Clurey and Trent McKenzie were most weeks blanketing opponents – Tom Hawkins six-goal game in Round 12 aside.
But there was still room to improve.
Dougal Howard had been traded to St Kilda because the Power thought he didn’t really fit their defensive style – heavily focused on intercepting and launching attacks.
Aliir on the other hand was perfect and had been tracked by the Power list management and recruiting staff.
In 2019, playing mainly as a defender but with some stints in the ruck, Aliir was the No. 1 intercept player per game.
He was rated as the third best key defender in the competition, averaging five marks and 16 disposals per game.
At 195cm Aliir was also taller than Port’s first choice key defenders.
“The interest is how Sydney decided to let him go without a bigger fight,” mused Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall after those stats were raised during Port’s big win over Essendon.
SWANS SHIFT
At the end of the 2019 season, Swans assistant coach Tadhg Kennelly said of Aliir “the ceiling is … who knows how good of a player he can become”.
Just over 12 months later the view of the Swans regarding Aliir was different.
With Naismith going down with another knee injury, Aliir played more in the ruck for the Swans in 2020.
He didn’t have a poor year for the Swans in the COVID impacted 2020 season, but he didn’t set the world on fire.
Tom McCartin’s emergence as a key defender also gave Sydney something to think about.
“A factor that had a fair bit to do with that was how good young Tommy McCartin looked when he went back,” Swans recruiting and list strategist Kinnear Beatson said on SEN after Aliir was traded to the Power for a future second round pick.
“In the back half of the year he looked like a natural defender and to get Lance (Franklin) back next year, we’ll be able to have those two settle back into their positions.
“Sometimes to get something in, and we desperately needed another ruck option given the injury to Sammy Naismith, you’ve got to give something up to get something.
“That deal with Port was a deal that was going to enable us to get Tom Hickey in, which was a priority for us.”
SWANS SALARY SQUEEZE
But the main reason for the Swans trading Aliir is understood to be for reasons off the field.
Lance Franklin’s nine-year contract is heavily back-ended and in part created a salary cap issue at Sydney.
Franklin is due close to $1.5m this year and $1m next year, the final year of his nine-year deal.
The Advertiser was told by one source that the Swans salary cap issue, while not as public as Collingwood’s that resulted in Adam Treloar, Jaidyn Stephenson and Tom Phillips being moved on, was worse than the Magpies.
Last week before the Essendon win, Hinkley hinted that Aliir’s departure from Sydney was more around this issue rather than anything on the field.
“There are lots of decisions into why some things happen at football clubs,” he said.
“I know John (Sydney coach John Longmire) really well and I know John really rates Aliir so there’s no issue there.
“It’s more about the other challenges that come into balancing a list and building a list.”
WHY ALIIR KEPT MOUTH SHUT
The Power were interested and confident a deal could be done.
But there was just one issue, they literally couldn’t talk to Aliir.
After the season ended, the 26-year-old had jaw surgery on wisdom teeth and then had an underbite corrected.
His jaw was wired shut and the Power’s plan to talk to Aliir was complicated.
“Chris Davies (Port Adelaide general manager of football) had been trying to get in contact with my management and Paul (Connors) and Robbie (D’Orazio) kept saying, ‘Mate, he can’t talk, he’s just had jaw surgery, so he can’t talk properly’,” Aliir told The Advertiser after he joined the Power last year.
But once Aliir could actually communicate with the Power, things moved quickly.
He flew into Adelaide on a Monday, was shown around the city by Port staff and had dinner with Tom Jonas and Ryan Burton that night.
Two-days later, after he requested a trade to the Power, Aliir was a Port player on a four-year deal.
IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Already Aliir looks to have strengthened a Power side tipped by many to build on that preliminary final appearance and taste premiership success in 2021.
His 3.5 intercept marks and eight intercept possessions per game are ranked No. 1 for the Power in their two matches so far.
While only Josh Walker has kicked a goal on him, in 45 minutes of their match-up, with Peter Wright (45 minute match-up) and Harrison Jones (37 minutes) unable to get any luck against him.
“He is playing the role really well that we wanted him to play for us and we identified that he could play for us,” Hinkley said.
“We recognised a great strength of Aliir’s and Jason (Cripps) and list management said well if we are looking for the intercept type defender then Aliir has all the weapons that we want.”
But just how much Aliir has added to the Power backline will arguably be known in his biggest test as a Port player to date.
On Saturday the Power face off against West Coast and the Eagles’ potent forward line of Josh Kennedy, Jack Darling and the ever improving Oscar Allen in a serious test of Port’s premiership credentials.
After the win over Essendon Hinkley said the Power and Aliir would go into the game bullish about their chances.
“We understand that next week is a really big challenge, we are confident and we go and play West Coast knowing that we can perform with anyone and we just have to bring our best game,” he said.
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Originally published as AFL contract news: Carlton zeros in on Patrick Cripps extension
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