Patrick Cripps and Sam Docherty currently hold the mantle as co-captains of the Carlton Football Club.
Both have been All-Australians and despite Docherty’s knee injuries, both have also been cornerstones of the list built by Stephen Silvagni at the club.
Despite that, the skippers have revealed Silvagni, in his previous role as list manager of GWS, didn’t interview either of them in their draft years.
Cripps climbed the rankings quickly in the 2013 National Draft and was selected by the Blues at pick 13, but neither expansion team expressed interest in the midfielder.
“I had interviews from every club except for Gold Coast and GWS, so obviously SOS didn’t rate me because he was the manager there,” Cripps told the Carlton website with tongue in cheek.
Docherty admitted the same was true for him back in the 2011 National Draft.
The 25-year-old went 12th overall to Brisbane, sandwiched in between five GWS selections (nine, 10, 11, 13 and 14).
“I interviewed with every club apart from GWS which SOS was in charge of as well,” Docherty said.
Cripps is set to play his 100th game this weekend when the Blues take on St Kilda at the MCG and believes he’s come a long way from the pastry loving kid who walked into Ikon Park.
“I was a bit of a bolter (in the draft). I rocked up to the club and I was a bit overweight – I liked my pastries as a kid,” he said.
“When I say I rolled into the club, it’s probably a bit of an exaggeration, but I was probably around 15 per cent (body fat).”
Docherty felt Cripps’ work-rate was always going to see him make it as an AFL footballer.
“He rolled into the club and he wasn’t the quickest and wasn’t an endurance beast coming in, but I think the thing that held him in good stead was his hard work,” he said.
Carlton will be hoping Cripps can carry his Brownlow contention form on in 2020, with Docherty returning from his second ACL tear and newly announced coach David Teague at the helm.
Doc, Crippa and Pangy? 🚙
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) August 14, 2019
That's something everyone can enjoy!
Check out the latest episode of 'Driving with Sam Pang', proudly presented by @hyundaiaus.#BoundByBlue