Carlton fuming as Patrick Cripps cops mauling from Kangaroos

Carlton will again raise the treatment of Patrick Cripps with the AFL umpires department.

Carlton’s Patrick Cripps was on the end of some rough treatment from North Melbourne. Picture: Michael Klein

Carlton will again raise Patrick Cripps’ treatment with umpires boss Grant Williams after footage emerged of him being regularly mauled by North Melbourne midfielders in the victory over the Kangaroos.

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.

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It is understood 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.

Statistics show Cripps gives away more free kicks than he is awarded. This season he has conceded 15 free kicks having given away 17.

Carlton champion Mark Maclure said 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.

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 but Cripps can’t do that because he would be out for two weeks.

“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 ruck men 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) Bontempellis 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.”

Said Cripps of the controversy: “I know Lloydy and JB (assistant coach John Barker) have constant dialogue with the AFL and they go into bat for me so I am sure the AFL do the right thing by at all.

“It is one of those things as a player you can’t get too involved in it. I go out there and enjoy the contest and I am going to hunt the ball and get after the man and try to play my role for the team to win.”

Herald Sun