Carlton star and Northampton’s finest Patrick Cripps reflects ahead of AFL game No.200

A star of the Carlton Football Club, Northampton’s finest Patrick Cripps will run out for career game No.200 this week in a clash with the Bulldogs.

Since joining the Blues in 2014, Cripps quickly became the club’s centrepiece and has led the team through some rough years.

Long known as the best player on a bad team, the early stages of Cripps’ career saw him trying to drag the Blues over the line and elevate the players around him.

Last year he finally broke the curse after holding the title for the most games played for Carlton without a final, and they are looking good to go back this year, sitting in second place on the ladder.

Cripps will become the 39th Blue to play 200 games for the club — a milestone he recognises as a big achievement.

“Milestones always make you reflect,” he told Carlton media.

“It’s weird, I feel like at 100 games you feel like you’re an AFL player, but 200 is a really big milestone.

“It takes a body of work to get there, so it’s been 11 years and it’s something I’m really proud of.”

A leader of men, the Northampton product was made co-captain in 2019 alongside Sam Docherty, taking on the role solo in 2022.

Coming up on game No.200, the 29-year-old, who is a new father after welcoming daughter Koda this year, is playing some of the best football of his career and is hot in the race to claim his second Brownlow Medal.

The midfield bull said he had not made the journey alone but still had a lot of football left to play.

“I’ve had a lot of support along the way — not only from the club but from family and friends,” he said.

“I’m really looking forward to this weekend.

“It’s going to be an exciting game, but I feel like I’ve got a lot left in the tank, so it’s nice to celebrate, but it always makes you eager to keep going.”

Widely regarded as one of the game’s best players, Cripps has already built up an impressive list of achievements over his 199 games.

None stick out more than the 2022 season when he claimed the Brownlow Medal, and apart from his family there was no group prouder of Cripps than the Northampton community which helped him become the player he is. today.

To Cripps, the Brownlow is all well and good but last year’s finals campaign — in which Carlton won two finals and reached a preliminary final — has been the highlight of his career so far.

“Definitely playing in the finals series last year was the best,” he said.

“Everyone talks about the individual stuff as a reward for hard work, but the team stuff and what you get, even though we didn’t achieve the end goal, sometimes you have to celebrate the games you made.”

While his footy has excelled, Cripps said the birth of his daughter had been massive for him this year.

“It’s definitely helped me switch off from footy. I love hanging out with (Koda) . . . I’m really enjoying it,” he said.

“She’s been great, and (wife) Mon is doing a great job as well.”

The gun midfielder is just one of many talented players to come through the Northampton football factory — Fremantle’s Paul Hasleby, Geelong’s Harry Taylor and West Coast’s Josh Kennedy and Cripps’ cousin Jamie some others to name a few.

Club president Damian Harris said Cripps has always been a standout.

“He played juniors in Northampton then obviously went away to boarding school and the rest is history,” he said.

“It’s absolutely awesome and to be the leader of a great club, his leadership qualities come through and that’s a credit to his family ... country kids, they do it well.

“From the (Northampton) football club, congratulations to Patty.”

Cripps will run out with Carlton for his milestone match on Saturday when they face the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium

CRIPPS’ CV

• Pick No.13 in 2013 national draft.
• 2022 Brownlow Medal.
• Club captain since 2019.
• Four John Nicholls Medals (club best and fairest, 2015, 2018-19, and 2022)
• Three-time All Australian (2018, 2019, 2022).
• AFLPA MVP Leigh Matthews Trophy (2019).
• 109 goals.
• Career game averages: 25.6 disposals, 5.4 tackles, 7.1 clearances.