CO-CAPTAIN Patrick Cripps has liked what he’s seen from his midfield counterparts throughout pre-season.

Challenged over the summer to step up and take greater ownership with more experience, some of the Blues’ youngsters brought the heat against one of the deepest midfields in the competition.

Sam Petrevski-Seton, Zac Fisher, Will Setterfield and Paddy Dow came up against Scott Pendlebury, Dayne Beams, Steele Sidebottom and Adam Treloar, with the boys in Navy Blue able to hold their heads high.

Cripps said the exposure and experience would be critical in raising their game to the next level.

“They’re really talented, these young guys,” Cripps said.

“Some are in their second and third years now, so they’re ready to play at the elite level.

“They’re starting to back themselves and getting a lot of confidence. Collingwood has a really good midfield and I think we matched them for most of the day.”

Petrevski-Seton was arguably the pick of the bunch of the younger brigade, registering 23 disposals and three clearances for the afternoon.

Despite Collingwood winning more of the ball out of the middle, Carlton’s dominance around the ground (+15 in stoppages) saw the Blues win the clearance battle.

Cripps was pleased with the way he and his teammates were able to reset after the Pies made the early running.

“It was a good test, they were runners-up last year… it will be a good learning curve for us,” he said.

“Especially with a young midfield like ours, I think in the first quarter they got us with the hands.

“After that, I think we were around the mark. We were probably unlucky not to win it.”

Cripps showed no signs of slowing down in 2019 himself, recording 24 disposals, seven clearances and two second-quarter goals.

He said the summer would hopefully hold the Blues in good stead, ahead of the season opener in nine days.

“Andrew Russell coming from Hawthorn has put us through the wringer. We’ve had a really good pre-season,” he said.

“The boys are fit and it’ll be a good test in Round 1 next week.”

Stuck in the middle in Blue

Carlton’s midfielders under the age of 22 yesterday

Sam Petrevski-Seton — 23 disposals, four marks, three clearances
Sam Walsh — 23 disposals, 13 contested possessions, six inside 50s
Zac Fisher — 20 disposals, five inside 50s
Paddy Dow — 14 disposals, 11 contested possessions, four score involvements
David Cuningham — 14 disposals, four tackles, two goals
Will Setterfield — 13 disposals, nine contested possessions, one goal