Patrick Cripps dominates Geelong midfield while Liam Ryan and Jamie Cripps among Eagles’ best in loss

Mid West talent across the AFL again stood up and impressed in round 15 action, none more so than Patrick Cripps, while Tyler Brockman returned from the wilderness with something to prove. Back in the side for the first time since round seven, Brockman played arguably his best game for the season, providing some run in the middle and amassing 14 disposals, five clearances and two tackles. Brockman had been sidelined after news emerged that he had allegedly crashed a ute into a light post in the Geraldton suburb of Wandina on May 4. He has been charged with multiple offences and is due in Geraldton court next week. Pre-game, Eagles coach Adam Simpson said Brockman had “made a mistake” and needed to “suffer the consequences for that when the time’s right”, but added he had met training and standards benchmarks “pretty well”. “Within the four walls we need to take care of him and try and get him a career that gives the club as much as we give him,” he said. “There’s some off field stuff we are going to work on, and that will take years.” West Coast proved competitive against Essendon at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, but tailed off at the end, with the Bombers getting up 19.8 (122) to 13.14 (92). The Mid West pair of Jamie Cripps and Liam Ryan were among the Eagles’ best during the loss, as Ryan found himself starting in the midfield. Cripps had plenty of the footy but poor accuracy on goal held back what could have been a monster performance, as he finished with 19 disposals, four marks, four clearances a goal assist, while kicking 2.3. While Ryan used his speed on ball and was getting involved with three goal assists and seven score involvements. Northampton’s Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps starred for Carlton in its big win over Geelong on Friday night. It seemed like Cripps had brought his own footy to the game, with the Blues storming to a 21.12 (138) to 11.9 (75) win over the Cats. The 2022 Brownlow medallist is looking in contention for All-Australian captaincy in his current form and was electric against Geelong, posting a season high 41 disposals — just one off his career record — 14 clearances, 18 contested possessions and 498m gained. Cripps helped lift the Carlton midfield and fed off his ruck Tom De Koning’s career-best night. The clash between Melbourne and North Melbourne ended in a nailbiter, but the Kangaroos again could not get over the line, going down 11.4 (70) to 10.7 (67). In for his second game with North, another Rams product in Brynn Teakle continued to grow in his split forward-ruck role. During the first quarter, Teakle took a mark inside 50 for a shot on goal but kicked it to the left for a behind. Teakle finished the game with 10 disposals, four marks, one clearance and a tackle. While it was Geraldton’s Judd McVee who got the last laugh, getting up as the Demons held on against North who were storming home late. After a dip in form last week, Dongara-born Jaeger O’Meara was back firing on the weekend as Fremantle won 12.13 (85) to 10.5 (65) against Gold Coast. As the Suns looked a chance late to come back into the game, a timely goal from O’Meara put the nail in the coffin as the Dockers redeemed their embarrassing loss from the week before. O’Meara finished with 19 disposals, seven tackles, two clearances and a goal. In the battle of the bridge, Sydney got up over GWS 15.12 (102) to 11.9 (75), as Coorow-Latham’s Logan McDonald slotted a goal during the win.