THIS weekend marks six years since Patrick Cripps made his Carlton debut.
Few would've expected the impact he would have when he fronted up for his first game against Melbourne. After three games in his first season, his five years since have seen Cripps establish himself as a premier player in the competition.
He's the youngest three-time John Nicholls Medallist since the award's namesake, he was voted as the AFLPA MVP in 2019 and he has led the Club as co-captain alongside Sam Docherty in the last 18 months.
So, in the second edition of Tuesday Tops (presented by CUB), it makes sense to look through Patrick Cripps' best performances.
Fittingly, let's count down from No.9.
Honourable mentions: Round 5 v Western Bulldogs (2019), Round 23 v Adelaide (2018), Round 14 v Richmond (2017)
9. Round 22, 2016 v Melbourne
This could have been one of a number of performances, but we'll go with this one against Melbourne. After a blistering mid-season run of form, Carlton had gone nine games without a win while Melbourne needed a win to keep its season alive. What resulted was an upset win from the Blues, with Cripps the protagonist. In the absence of Marc Murphy, a 21-year-old Cripps set the tone early as the Blues raced out of the blocks. With 30 disposals, 13 clearances, 12 tackles and a goal, it was a clear best-on-ground performance from the third-year Blue.
8. Round 1, 2018 v Richmond
This was the pick of the bunch when it comes to Cripps shining in season openers, which has been on more than one occasion. As Richmond unfurled its drought-breaking premiership flag, Cripps did everything possible to spoil the party. Supported by a five-goal performance from Charlie Curnow up forward, Cripps took the fight to a star-studded Richmond midfield, collecting the perfect 10 coaches' votes after 36 disposals against Cotchin, Martin and co. He hasn't stopped since then, having been awarded two Brownlow votes in the 2019 edition while starring once again three weeks ago with 31 disposals.
7. Round 12, 2015 v Port Adelaide
You never forget your first lot of Brownlow votes, and Cripps achieved that against Port Adelaide at the MCG five years ago. In Carlton's first game without Chris Judd, 'P. Cripps, three votes' was born. Whether it was a handball-over-his-head assist to Tom Bell, his physicality at 20 years of age or his leadership belying his youth, this was the game where Cripps showed exactly what he's capable of at the home of football in a memorable four-point win.
6. Round 19, 2019 v Gold Coast
Similar to the Melbourne game listed above, Cripps knows when his team needs him most. In a difficult 2018 season for the Blues, the team made the trip to Metricon Stadium and conceded the first three goals inside 10 minutes. Alongside Murphy, Cripps steadied the ship and then powered along as a young Carlton side got the better of the Suns. It was Cripps at his dominant best and a clear best-on-ground performance from Carlton's No.9, recording another 37 disposals and 11 tackles in tricky conditions.
4/5. Round 14, 2018 and Round 8, 2019 v Collingwood
We had to group these two together. Just like he has in season openers of years gone by, Cripps has shown his thirst for the big occasion against the old enemy. With Collingwood among the competition's best teams in recent seasons, Cripps has risen to the challenge and performed with aplomb. It began in 2018, when Cripps kicked three, recorded 20 contested possessions and nearly spearheaded an upset win against the Grand Final-bound Pies. He took his game to another level in 2019, keeping his team alive with 35 disposals and a clutch final-quarter goal. If not for same late drama at the MCG, it would have been a famous Carlton win on the back of the captain.
3. Round 4, 2015 v St Kilda
He may have had better performances since then, but this was the game where Cripps well and truly announced himself in the competition. Taking place on Anzac Day in Wellington, this game marked Cripps' first goal as well as the first real game where he took it by the scruff of the neck. Pipped by captain Marc Murphy for the ANZAC Medal, Cripps' 33 disposals and 11 tackles in his sixth game of football was a warning shot. Incredibly, Cripps didn't poll Brownlow Medal votes in this game, but there'd be plenty of those in the years to come.
2. Round 19, 2019 v Adelaide
In most ordinary cases, a game where you amass 39 disposals (24 contested), 19 clearances (the second most ever) and a goal would probably warrant the best individual performance. The MCG was Cripps' playground in Round 19 of last season, as the co-captain put Adelaide to the sword with a dominant performance. The Crows had no match and no answers for the midfield bull, who welcomed his teammates along for the ride in a 27-point win. Unsurprisingly, it was a three-vote performance, and the exact kind of showing which saw him voted by his peers as the most valuable player in the competition.
1. Round 12, 2019 v Brisbane
Sometimes, the obvious choice is the right choice: you knew what this was going to be when you clicked on it. It was voted the best individual performance of the 2019 season by fans and it's hard to argue otherwise. In David Teague's first game as coach, Carlton found itself 37 points down early in the second quarter. Come the end of the game, the Blues finished 15 points ahead and it was evidently thanks to the leadership of the No.9. The stat line of 38 disposals and four second-half goals speaks for itself.
