Season 2015 was a challenging year for the Carlton Football Club, which ultimately finished 18th on the ladder.

With the team now on a break, we’re taking a look back at each player’s year in statistics. Here's the review for Carlton's 2015 John Nicholls Medallist Patrick Cripps:

GAMES
Season 2015: 20
Career: 23

GOALS
Season 2015: 6
Career: 6

KEY AFL STATISTICS (averages in brackets)
Disposals: 471 (23.55) Contested Possessions: 274 (13.7) Uncontested Possessions: 198 (9.9) Tackles: 98 (4.9) Clearances: 133 (6.65)

OVERVIEW
Patrick Cripps has played a truly remarkable season: eclipsing his own expectations for 2015 and becoming Carlton’s youngest club champion since John Nicholls himself in 1959.

The 20-year-old worked exceptionally hard in the pre-season, striving to take his game to the next level – his progress was clearly evident in the first few rounds.

Cripps played a pivotal part in the Blues’ victory over the Saints in New Zealand on ANZAC Day. The 194cm midfielder had 33 disposals (23 contested), 11 tackles, eight clearances and kicked a goal. His impressive performance didn’t go unnoticed, with the AFL awarding him the Round 4 NAB Rising Star nomination.

With Chris Judd, Marc Murphy, Andrew Carrazzo and Bryce Gibbs all suffering injuries at different stages throughout the season, the No.9 consistently held his own against the competition’s best.

VIDEO: Cripps speaks about winning the John Nicholls Medal

His ability to win the contested ball was so great and his impact so influential, opposition teams began paying him the highest compliment: he started getting tagged.

More 30-possession games against Port Adelaide, Collingwood and Greater Western Sydney followed, and it was clear this young blue was the real deal.

After a breakout season there’s no wonder the country boy from Northampton in WA won the 2015 Chris Judd Development Academy Award and came a close runner-up in the AFL’s Rising Star award – just like his idol and mentor Chris Judd in 2002.

VIDEO: Cripps wins Judd Academy Award

Carlton fans can’t wait to see what this young Blue produces in 2016 – and if it’s anything like this season, we’re all in for a treat.

CRIPPS’ STATS FOR THE BLUES:
No.1 for contested possessions
No.1 for handballs
No.1 for clearances
No. 2 for disposals
No. 2 for tackles

HE SAID IT
“To be honest I didn't really expect to play like this. At the start of the year I just wanted to get a spot in the side. My goal was to play 10 games this season and already I've played nine. In the off-season I went away and tried to get fitter and quicker and it's paid off.”
- Patrick Cripps speaking to AFL.com.au after Carlton’s Round 12 win over Port Adelaide.

VIDEO: Cripps' masterclass against Port Adelaide

THEY SAID IT
"He was tagged today by one of the preeminent run-with players in the competition and put a nice gap on him. He's very, very good. His dominance in the contest, and then today we started to see a little bit of burst into space, which we probably haven't seen much of in his career yet, but it's ominous. I don't know if I can say much more about him. My wife might start getting concerned.”
- Interim coach John Barker speaking about Cripps after his match-winning performance against Melbourne in Round 21.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT
In his most influential performance yet, Cripps was the standout against Collingwood in Round 19. He was the Blues highest possession getter with 35 disposals (18 contested) and a whopping 11 clearances. His dominance in the second half was so great Collingwood had to move Scott Pendlebury onto the 20-year-old to curb his impact.