Former Fremantle coach Ross Lyon admits he was disappointed watching Patrick Cripps in person in Round 2.
The Blues skipper is reportedly playing injured, but finished with 21 disposals and spent a large chunk of the game out of the midfield.
Lyon believes Cripps may need to change the way he plays to adjust to the new rules and the speed in the game.
“I watched him live last week and I was a little bit disappointed, I haven’t had the opportunity to watch him live a lot,” Lyon told Footy Classified.
“Stoppages are down 30 per cent, he’s rotating more forward, so his game’s being watered down.
“He’s going to have to be a link from defence, maybe it’s the aerial down the line and the ability to link up or build his craft forward.
“I think it’s a watch this space.”
Matthew Lloyd added that Cripps’ work at centre bounces has been poor this year, saying that his defensive work isn’t up to scratch.
“If I was David Teague, I would be challenging Patrick and ask him ‘are you as desperate as you were when you were trying to forge your career’?” Lloyd said.
“I watched him against Richmond against Shai Bolton … I’m not seeing desperation from Cripps to try and hang in there in the stoppage or get back to defend.
“Watching his second and third efforts, is he desperate enough? I’m not really seeing that at the moment.
“They’re playing a hungry young (Fremantle) midfield.”
Lyon believes the Round 3s clash with Fremantle is a must-win game for the Blues if they want any chance of making finals
“For Carlton they’re significant outs, but we spoke about Brisbane going 0-3 and then making finals, it’s even more important for Carlton that they don’t go 0-3. They must win this game,” he said.
"If I was David Teague, I'd be challenging Patrick and saying 'Are you as desperate as you were when you were first trying to forge your career?'"@matthewlloyd18 and Ross Lyon on how Carlton can turn Cripps' form around.#9FootyClassified | Watch @channel9 pic.twitter.com/zfYlBZBxWe
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) March 31, 2021
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