AFL: Carlton coach Michael Voss dismisses questions about captain Patrick Cripps’ form

Patrick Cripps is no longer the Brownlow Medal favourite but his coach Michael Voss remains thrilled with his captain’s performances.

Patrick Cripps hasn’t maintained his extraordinary early season form but coach Michael Voss has no complaints. Picture: Getty Images

Carlton coach Michael Voss has launched a staunch defence of captain Patrick Cripps’ form ahead of the Blues’ potentially tricky encounter with an improving West Coast.

Cripps was the AFL’s form player and hot Brownlow favourite through the first eight rounds, winning at least 30 disposals in each of the six full games he played in that period.

The 27-year-old’s 13 goals to that stage were already an equal career high.

Cripps dealt with injuries and struggled to reach his best form in the past two seasons but led the AFL Coaches’ Association champion player of the year award with 53 votes through the first two months this year.

But he polled only seven more votes in the eight rounds since to sit seventh behind Melbourne’s runaway leader Clayton Oliver.

Patrick Cripps is a key part of Carlton’s much-vaunted midfield. Picture: Getty Images

ripps still averaged more than 26 disposals and almost seven clearances in that period but the goals have dried up, with him kicking just three more.

“What I’d say is that if he maintained that (early season) level; he’d probably have 80 votes in the Brownlow,” Voss said.

“That might be a bit unfair on everybody else in the competition. The challenge is when you set such a high standard like that, some of that is just, in some instances, not plausible to keep going on that trajectory

“‘Crippa’ is really clear on what he’s doing. He is doing an amazing job for us as a leader of this club and I reckon his last couple of weeks have been fantastic.

“So if we can continue to get that contribution, I’m not going to be complaining whatsoever. That midfield group’s been going to work. They’re really important to us.

Blues ruckman Tom De Koning (right) has a strong fleet of midfielders to work with. Picture: Getty Images

“‘Crippa’ is a very important man in it, but I think it’s a little unrealistic to be able to think that he’s going to be able to play at that level for 23 weeks of the season. We can be a little fairer, I think.”

Voss said the drop off in Cripps’ goals could be explained by the different roles he played when certain teammates were available or not and that “you could not get me to express more gratitude for our captain”.

Cripps is part of a vastly improved Carlton on-ball brigade that includes fellow All-Australian Sam Walsh, recruits George Hewett and Adam Cerra and newly re-signed Matt Kennedy.

They have been so good that Paddy Dow’s dominant VFL campaign has been largely unrewarded with senior selection.

Paddy Dow is banging the door down with his VFL form. Picture: Getty Images

The Blues should only get stronger, with Jacob Weitering and Matt Owies returning for the Eagles clash and Marc Pittonet, Zac Williams, Jack Martin, Mitch McGovern and Caleb Marchbank due back inside the next five weeks.

“There’s a couple of guys in there, like ‘Pitto’, who will be back in the next week or two,” Voss said.

“So how do we integrate them back into the side? We haven’t had that discussion yet, but it’s obviously firmly on the radar.

“A lot of it’s really borne out of what’s happened the previous week as well. We have a plan that we want to execute. I don’t think we’re sitting here saying we need to rush anything.”

Originally published as AFL: Carlton coach Michael Voss dismisses questions about captain Patrick Cripps’ form