Carlton still need Patrick Cripps. Over the next three months, they need to convince the captain that he still needs them.
A harrowing week at Princes Park finished with a drought-breaking win largely, but not solely, because of the deeds of the man wearing the No.9 in the navy blue.
Lauded for his work behind the scenes in rousing a shattered group, Cripps stole the show on centre stage in the final quarter with a virtuoso performance reminiscent of his Brownlow years to haul his side over the line by two goals against the Western Bulldogs – 10.14 (74) to 9.8 (62).
If Michael Voss found a spare few hours to watch the game on Saturday night while moving house, he may have asked himself why the Blues could not produce such a performance when it mattered for him.
The majority of the 39,217 fans in a navy blue-dominated house spent much of the game wondering when the fadeouts, which have crippled the Blues’ season – and cost Voss his job – would come.
Instead, they were treated to a cathartic final quarter when the Blues, against their season trend, booted five goals in a row to turn an eight-point deficit at the last change into a match-winning 23-point lead, though there were more than a few a touch nervy when the Dogs dragged the margin back to 11 points with 28 seconds left.
“I wasn’t comfortable,” interim coach Josh Fraser admitted.
The win was built on the Blues’ strengths – clearance (+9) and contest (+31). Here, it was accompanied by their pressure, which Fraser had made a focus pregame to connect with the fans, but has been missing for large periods this year.
Cripps was central to the Blues’ charge. His final term was game-changing. Head-to-head with another midfield great, Marcus Bontempelli, Cripps willed himself to 13 disposals – eight of which were contested – and five clearances, including four out of the centre.
Throw in two goals, one of which came from a rampage through a forward-50 stoppage, and it’s likely he will get the three votes on Brownlow night.
His performance was reminiscent of his 38 possessions and four goals in David Teague’s debut as coach in 2019 after the Blues last lost their coach in a season.
“He’s just an incredibly impressive guy, the way he leads, and the way he led tonight, the way he was able to execute his role, but also organise and drive others to do so as well,” Fraser said.
“He’s had a great week. I mean, it’s been a tough week for him, but the support he’s given me, the way he’s led the playing group, he’s been outstanding.”
Nights like this are a timely reminder to his growing number of doubters that Cripps, 31, can still be a force in 2026, even with the game moving away from his strength of contest and clearance.
“He’s copped some pretty harsh criticism, Rick, and he’s had a couple of games where he’s getting the bloke hanging off him, but he’s still had a pretty good year, and he’s got a lot of good footy left in him,” veteran defender Nic Newman told this masthead. “I think it’s been pretty harsh, some of the people trying to write him off this early.”
Cripps spoke during the week of his commitment for this season, but while he acknowledged he was contracted for 2027, it was what he did not elaborate about next year that will have other clubs at least asking the question.
After the torment he has endured at Carlton, many Blues fans would not begrudge Cripps the chance to move on if he desired. But wins like these, featuring important contributions from several young Blues, should give the captain hope for the future.
Debutant Jack Ison, the first graduate of the club’s next-generation academy to play senior football for the club, has become an immediate cult hero. He loves a big moment, as he has shown regularly in an impressive first season in the VFL.
Pre-game, the 19-year-old delighted the masses in an Indigenous tribal dance to mark Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
Wearing the No.30 vacated by former crowd favourite Charlie Curnow, Ison brought them to their feet prematurely in the last term when a snap was touched on the line, and again a few minutes later when he calmly converted a set shot from 35 metres out – the most important of his 15 touches.
“He doesn’t miss those,” Cripps told Kayo Sports. “He’s got a great kick, and he gave us the dance [pre-game] and that’s what this round is all about. He’s not shy.
“He’s built for the moment, and he’ll be a good player for this footy club for a long time.”
Matt Carroll, in his second season of senior footy, booted three goals playing on the wing, including two from long range. Lachie Cowan, 21, played arguably his best game, drawing praise from Hawthorn great Dermott Brereton for his toughness and fighting spirit.
Prized recruit Jagga Smith had important moments, while Billy Wilson, in his sixth match, warmed into the game after some early nerves.
The four points were just the tonic for the Voss-less Blues, whose only other win this season came when they fell over the line against Richmond in round one.
Unlike the end of most coaching tenures, Voss never lost his players, many of whom had their only taste of finals under him. They remained tight with their boss to the end. Newman learned of Voss’s resignation in the media. Even though he had been aware of the speculation over Voss’s future, the news hit Newman hard.
“I certainly didn’t expect it on Tuesday morning,” Newman said.
“I was unaware, and knew there was a bit of noise around his position, but thought it’d be a discussion probably later in the year. He obviously made a call, which is selfless of him; he thought it was best for the footy club to release a few of the shackles, so it was bloody selfless from him.
“It was just nice to get a win for obviously him, and, hopefully, he’s sitting at home and has some pride in the way we played because you feel like that’s been building for a period.”
Newman has spoken to Voss since his resignation and will remain in touch.
“I think he was moving house, which is always stressful, so I think he might be getting away,” Newman said. “He’s been a great mentor for me as a player and also as a leader.”
The Bulldogs appeared the more fluent side for the first three quarters, but had no answer after Cripps lifted another gear. It is their fifth loss in six games, continuing an alarming form slump that started over Easter when injuries began to bite. The defeat was compounded by a hamstring injury to wingman Bailey Williams.
“I think I’ve been really pleased in close games where we’ve composed ourselves and been able to win,” Dogs coach Luke Beveridge said. “In this one, when it was close, their endeavour was high. You could tell it was just a level above ours, and that’s probably the more disappointing thing that’ll hurt the players.”
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