Make way for the Gladiator
CARLTON captain Patrick Cripps has been hailed as the club’s “Gladiator” as the midfield extractor was yesterday crunched into Brownlow Medal favouritism.
Housemate Zac Fisher revealed Cripps’s professionalism was contagious and coach Brendon Bolton has praised the superstar’s urge to improve his young teammates.
“I’m living with him and he lives a very elite lifestyle and it’s great for me to be in there,” Fisher said.
“He came in a bit chubby — I don’t think he’ll mind me saying this — when he got into the club. But he’s really strict on his diet, low carbs, the way he eats is just second to none.
“He’s the Gladiator sort of player and just leads by example from the contest stuff. All of his actions just take us with him.”
The Blues have produced just two Brownlow winners in the past 50 years — Greg Williams (1994) and Chris Judd (2010).
Carlton faced a lineball call on who to draft at No.13 in 2013 — Cripps or goal-kicker Cameron McCarthy.
While they desperately needed a spearhead, former recruiter Shane Rogers plumped for Cripps because of his added leadership qualities in a decision that has shaped the club’s rebuild.
Cripps is averaging more than 30 disposals for the first time in his career and is ranked No.1 in the AFL for contested ball.
Fellow West Australian Fisher is also emerging as a potential star as he splits his time between the midfield and forward line.
“He’s got fast feet, so he hunts the loose ball and the hard ball really well, and he’s dangerous around goals,” Bolton said.
Cripps urged AFLX captain Jack Riewoldt to draft Fisher into Team Rampage and he was then the winning team’s MVP.
Fisher said: “I like to measure myself on my contested ball when I go inside because I feel like when I get my contested game going, I won’t drift in and out.
“As a young kid, that can happen with consistency and, as a forward, it’s forward-50m tackles.
“I’ve always played as an inside mid but at the moment I’m happy to be able to go forward and pinch-hit.
“Having a really talented midfield group, we can’t fit everyone in, so I’m trying to move forward and really adapt my game there, but a 50-50 balance would be good.”