Carlton defender Sam Docherty says skipper Patrick Cripps is taking his management to a different stage as he makes an attempt to drive the Blues again into the AFL finals.
Cripps had 42 disposals, 20 contested possessions and 13 clearances on Saturday to haul Carlton to a 10-point win over GWS and a 2-1-0 begin to the season.
But final yr’s Brownlow medallist additionally attracted consideration with an impassioned speech to his teammates once they trailed the Giants by three factors at quarter-time.
“He was just saying that we needed to stay connected as a group and understand that we weren’t playing the footy we wanted to in the first quarter, and there’s parts of our game we really wanted to tidy up but it was important that we stayed connected and didn’t go in our shell,” Docherty instructed reporters.
“So he was just reinforcing that message to play our way and continue to do that.
“We knew that our greatest footy would get the job achieved so we needed to get again to doing that.”
Docherty knows Cripps’ leadership better than anyone.
He was co-captain alongside the three time All-Australian from 2019 to 2021, before stepping down ahead of last season to focus on his recovery from testicular cancer.
“He’s an obsessive character and he is undoubtedly obsessed about management,” Docherty said ahead of Carlton’s Good Friday clash with North Melbourne.
“He might spit you off each type of management lesson that is in any e-book wherever, and that thirst for management is unquestionably beginning to present.
“He’s just more confident in what he’s doing. He’s very sure on the type of leader he is and what he brings to the table, and he’s very confident in his ability to do that.
“He’s rising day by day. Much like every other AFL participant is rising of their recreation, he grows (in) his management.
“He’s been great. He’s been on this journey of building this club back to where we all wanted it for a long time and he’s been a massive part in the culture that we have at this footy club.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
