Carlton’s Patrick Cripps has taken aim at AFL journalist Caroline Wilson after she reported that he and fellow Blue Sam Docherty stayed at a separate hotel to the rest of their teammates in Sydney over the weekend.
Wilson, speaking on Channel 9's Footy Classified, said that Cripps and Docherty stayed at a "boutique" hotel in Paddington, a different venue to the team hotel.
“First of all, Patrick Cripps, when they had a short break after the West Coast game, was given leave to have an extra day at home, he’s obviously a Perth boy,” Wilson said about Cripps.
“I don’t think many eyebrows were raised over that, but internally a couple of people did.
“Then before the Sydney game, I think Sam Docherty and Patrick Cripps didn’t stay at the team hotel, they stayed at a boutique hotel in Paddington.
“Is that unusual? It just seems in times like this when you need to galvanise, it seemed a bit odd to me they weren’t all together after the game.”
But Cripps has since taken to Instagram to deny these rumours.
“I can cop criticism about form and losing but when it's factually incorrect and questions my character and commitment to the team it p---es me off. This is the accountability as players that we would love to see with certain people in the media,” he said.
“For clarity for everyone, I stayed with the team the entire time they were in Sydney and joined my wife and family members on the Sat night as we had the weekend off.
“We aren't where we want to be as a team right now, but never question my commitment to this team or club.
“I can't wait for Friday night.”
The Blues will look to get their season back on track against Melbourne in a massive Friday night clash at the MCG.