Carlton still need Patrick Cripps. For the next three months, they need to convince the captain that he still needs them.
A torrid week at Princes Park ended with a dramatic victory for the drought, but not only, because of the actions of the man wearing No. 9 in navy blue.
Praised for his behind-the-scenes work in rousing a disintegrating group, Cripps stole the show at center stage in the final quarter with a performance reminiscent of his Brownlow years to get his side over the line by two goals against the Western Bulldogs – 10.14 (74) to 9.8 (62).
If Michael Voss had a few extra hours to watch the game on Saturday night while he was moving home, he might have wondered why the Blues couldn’t put on a similar performance when it mattered to him.
Many of the 39,217 fans in the blue water-dominated home spent much of the game wondering when the fade, which has crippled the Blues’ season – and cost Voss his job – would come.
Instead, they advanced to the quarter-finals when the Blues, against their season’s trend, kicked five goals in a row to turn an eight-point deficit at the final change to win the match by 23 points, although there were more than a few worried to touch down when the Dogs pulled the margin back to 11 points with 28 seconds remaining.
“I wasn’t comfortable,” interim coach Josh Fraser admitted.
The victory was built on the strength of the Blues – clearance (+9) and competition (+31). Here, it coincided with their pressure, which Fraser had aimed to connect with the fans, but has been missing for large periods this year.
Cripps was at the center of the charge for the Blues. His final moment was a game-changer. Going toe-to-toe with another midfield legend, Marcus Bontempelli, Cripps committed 13 clearances – eight of which were contested – and five clearances, including four outside the middle.
He kicks two goals, one of which was a goal caused by 50 forwards being stopped, and is likely to get three votes on Brownlow night.
His performance was reminiscent of his 38 possessions and four goals in David Teague’s managerial debut in 2019 after the Blues lost their manager for a season.
“He’s a very impressive person, the way he leads, and the way he led tonight, the way he was able to execute his role, but also organize and push others to do the same,” Fraser said.
“He’s had a good week. I mean, it’s been a tough week for him, but the help he’s given me, the way he’s led the playgroup, he’s been great.”
A night like this is a timely reminder to the growing number of people who doubt that Cripps, 31, can still be strong in 2026, even as the game departs from its competitive strength and approval.
“He’s faced a lot of criticism, ‘Rick, and he’s had a couple of games where he’s got the guy hanging, but he’s still having a really good year, and he’s got good legs left,” Newman told this masthead. “I think it’s been too harsh, some people are trying to put him off this early.”
Cripps spoke during the week of his commitment for this season, but while he admitted he has been offered a contract until 2027, it is something he did not elaborate on next year that will have other clubs asking the question.
After the suffering he has endured at Carlton, many Blues fans would not begrudge Cripps a chance to move forward if he wanted to. But a win like this, featuring key contributions from a number of Blues youngsters, should give the skipper hope for the future.
Debutant Jack Ison, the first graduate of the club’s next generation academy to play senior football for the club, has become an instant cult hero. He loves the big time, as he has shown time and time again in an impressive first season in the VFL.
Before the game, the 19-year-old entertained the crowd in the original Sir Doug Nicholls Round signaling dance.
Wearing the number 30 vacated by former crowd favorite Charlie Curnow, Ison brought them to their feet ahead of time last term when a shot was touched on the line, and again moments later when he calmly converted a shot from 35 meters out – the most important of his 15 touches.
“He doesn’t miss those,” Cripps told Kayo Sports. “He’s got a big kick, and he gave us a dance (before the game) and that’s the case for this round. He’s not shy.
“He is built right now, and he will be a great player for this football club for a long time.”
Matt Carroll, in his second season of senior football, scored three goals on the wing, including two from long range. Lachie Cowan, 21, played his best game, earning praise from Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton for his tenacity and fighting spirit.
Award-winning recruit Jagga Smith had key moments, while Billy Wilson, in his sixth game, settled into the game after some early nerves.
The four points were impressive for the Voss-less Blues, whose only other win this season came when they fell to Richmond in round one.
Unlike the end of many coaching eras, Voss never lost his players, many of whom had their only taste of the finals under him. They continued to stay with their boss until the end. Newman learned of Voss’s resignation in the media. Although he was aware of the rumors about Voss’s future, the news hit Newman hard.
“I certainly didn’t expect it on Tuesday morning,” Newman said.
“I didn’t know, and I knew there was a bit of noise about his position, but I thought it would be a discussion maybe later in the year. Obviously he made the call, which is his commitment; he thought it was better for the footy club to release a few shackles, so it was a bloody commitment from him.
“It was just great to get the win for him, and, hopefully, he’s sitting at home and proud of how we played because you feel like that’s been building for a while.”
Newman has spoken with Voss since his resignation and will continue to stay in touch.
“I think he was moving house, which is always stressful, so I think he might be leaving,” Newman said. “He has been a great mentor to me as a player and also as a leader.”
The Bulldogs looked the better of the first three quarters, but had no answer after Cripps kicked it up another gear. This is their fifth defeat in six games, continuing a downward spiral that began at Easter when injuries started to bite. The defeat was caused by a muscle injury to winger Bailey Williams.
“I think I’ve been really pleased with the close games where we’ve come together and been able to win,” Dogs coach Luke Beveridge said. “In this, when it was close, their effort was high. You can tell it’s just a level above ours, and that’s probably the most disappointing thing that will hurt the players.”
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