Is there pressure on Patrick Cripps to deliver for Carlton in 2022?
The 26-year-old was last week appointed as sole captain of the club after Sam Docherty stepped aside from the joint role to focus on his health.
Cripps will lead a three-man leadership group with Jacob Weitering and Sam Walsh to act as joint vice-captains which appears to be the right mix, according to Kane Cornes.
“It’s his fourth season as captain. He’s only 26 years of age and he’ll be supported by Weitering and Walsh,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.
“I think it’s probably the right call. I was starting to think maybe it’s time for Sam Walsh to take over as captain with a new coach (Michael Voss) coming in and the troubles Carlton have had.
“In the end, where I’ve landed, is that this is the right call. Having said that, it is a massive year for Patrick Cripps.”
While Cripps is already a two-time All-Australian and three-time best and fairest, his past two seasons have been below his best and he must improve if the Blues are to play finals this year.
However, Port Adelaide champion Cornes feels his overall output will only increase if he learns how to share the load, suggesting there is pressure on him to deliver.
“He was ninth in the best and fairest in 2020, he was fourth last year, which for a player of his ability who played most games in a team that finished outside the top eight is not good enough. His performance has been ordinary,” he added.
“As the captain, he needs to play better. In the past I think he’s tried to do it all alone and be that guy, play 90 per cent midfield and try to carry the team on his back - which I admire greatly about him. Now it is time to play a more team-oriented game and bring his teammates into the game more and try not to be everything to everyone.
“He’s just got to play better and he’s got to be more damaging. There’s no way he’s in the likes of (Christian) Petracca, probably even (Ollie) Wines and (Clayton) Oliver, (Marcus) Bontempelli and the best midfielders in the game, which he has the ability to do.
“Right call where it’s landed, but a bit of pressure on Cripps to step up and drive Carlton into a better team performance and better individual performance from him.”
Josh Jenkins concurs with Cornes regarding his stance on Cripps and also admits he would have liked to have seen co-captains again at the Blues.
The former Adelaide forward feels 24-year-old Weitering would make a great skipper and can see him taking the role in the future.
“It’s a little bit foolish for you and I to make a call on who should be Carlton captain and who shouldn’t be when we’re not involved,” Jenkins said.
“But I would have liked to have seen Jacob Weitering as co-captain. I think his performance is elite, he’s one of the top key backs in the game. The thing I love about him, it was really questionable whether he was going to make the grade for two or three years and then he just developed and evolved. Now he’s a really dominant and powerful full-back.
“He’s one of the most impressive people in the media when he speaks. Carlton are in a better position than we are to decide, but I would have loved to have seen him step up and perhaps this is just the evolution of him doing so.”
The Blues are preparing for their opening AAMI Community Series fixture against reigning premiers Melbourne on March 3 before their Round 1 clash against Richmond on March 17.