Blues in a battle to clear Cripps

CARLTON is certain to appeal Patrick Cripps’ two-match ban for rough conduct as its chances of ending a nine-year finals drought hang on the list’s much-vaunted midfield depth.

Cripps was on Monday night suspended for two weeks for a high-impact, high-contact careless rough conduct charge against Brisbane’s Cal Ah Chee.

The Blues were hopeful freeze-frame images of Cripps with his eyes on the ball all the way through the contest might help convince the MRO that he was contesting the ball.

But the replay showed that Cripps clearly turned sideways to bump when it became apparent that he was not able to contest the ball.

It means he will need a successful tribunal challenge to see him eligible to take on the brilliant Melbourne midfield this weekend, ahead of a massive clash against Collingwood on the last day of the homeand-away season.

Carlton’s advocate is expected to argue that Cripps was involved in an aerial contest and at all times was trying to win the ball.

The angle of attack – with Ah Chee coming across Cripps rather than the Blues captain making a beeline for the Lions utility – will also be used as evidence it was a football accident.

The heat will go on to new recruit Adam Cerra and No.3 overall draft pick Paddy Dow to pick up the slack, with coach Michael Voss’s midfield decimated at the worst time of the season.

Matt Kennedy is still on track for a round 23 return from a broken jaw but George Hewett has now missed three games with a disc issue in his back and might not play again this year. The Blues are hopeful of ramping up his workload this week but he continues to battle soreness.

From rounds 16-21 the Blues midfield ranks only 10th for clearance differential and points from stoppages after being dominant in that area in early rounds. Carlton’s contested possession differential is still second in the league (+11.5) but will be challenged by Cripps’ likely absence.

With the “Carlton Crew” three down, Cerra will again have to adjust his role after playing only 66 per cent of midfield time since round 13.

In that new role playing wing (14 per cent) and forward (20 per cent), he is well down on inside 50s (minus 55 per cent), clearances (minus 41 per cent) and score involvements (minus 35 per cent).