Patrick Cripps preparing to sign contract extension in off-season
CARLTON fans have become skittish about the future of Patrick Cripps given the club’s current plight; but it seems the West Australian has faith in the Blues and believes they are heading in the right direction.
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PATRICK Cripps will sign an off-season contract extension past 2019, adamant the club is heading in the right direction despite its current plight.
Cripps fought an almost lone hand in the Blues’ record 109-point loss to Melbourne, with Carlton recording a solitary win this season.
Coach Brendon Bolton was adamant Cripps was not being weighed down by the load after 31 possessions (23 contested), 10 clearances, nine tackles and a goal.
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Blues fans have become skittish about his future, with footy analyst and Carlton diehard Andy Maher saying on radio: “They’ve got to get that kid’s signature ASAP.”
But West Australian Cripps could not be happier at Carlton, has set down roots in Melbourne and has bought property locally.
His girlfriend is back in West Australia finishing a university degree but will join him in Melbourne again at year’s end.
The Blues and his management have not yet discussed whether that contract will be a long-term deal taking him past free agency.
A two-year deal would take him to eight years of service, with Cripps the future face of Carlton along with Charlie Curnow.
A five-year deal would set him on the path to becoming a Blue for life, Curnow signed a two-year extension through to 2019 in June last year but is expected to sign an extension on a similar timeline as Cripps.
He would easily command a salary of around $1 million a year given his consistent performances and market value.
Cripps, 23, was the acting captain until Marc Murphy returned to football next week and has relished the increased leadership opportunities.
He would be a captaincy contender along with injured defender Sam Docherty, currently coaching from the sidelines this year.
But the Blues might decide a co-captaincy arrangement would work similar to Melbourne’s shared arrangement with Jack Viney and Nathan Jones.
Cripps made clear last week on Fox Footy he loved Carlton and was prepared to stick out the lean times.
Meanwhile, Tom McDonald’s new contract at Melbourne will only be signed once he and the club can get a greater read on his value as a key forward.
McDonald is adamant he wants to stay at the Demons, with coach Simon Goodwin buoyed by his level of dedication after Sunday’s win.
The Demons swingman has kicked 9.2 in the past two weeks, after an amazingly accurate 23.7 in his forays forward last year.
The AFL’s best-paid players are often star key forwards, so if he can put together continued strong form his value will only rise.
On the open market the free agent would be worth huge sums, but it is expected he will sacrifice like many teammates given he wants to play in an era of Demons success.
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