Port Adelaide champion Kane Cornes has lavished praise on Carlton captain Patrick Cripps, saying he is “in awe” of the Blues No.9’s inspirational start to the season.
After struggling through both of the previous two seasons due to persistent injuries, Cripps has come out like a man possessed through the first eight rounds of the 2022 season.
The Carlton captain is averaging 29.3 disposals and 7.9 disposals per game through his first seven matches this year, and has already matched his career-high mark of goals in a season with 13 majors.
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Cornes, who was one of Cripps’ harshest critics and even labelled him a “liability” last year, said the 27-year-old’s play stacked up with any leader in the history of the game.
“This is what Wayne Carey used to do, this is what the great captains used to do,” Cornes told Nine’s Footy Classified.
“He (Cripps) was like, ‘you want to come and tag me? Good luck’, and he let him know early. He’s doing the team-orientated stuff and he’s an absolute bull at the moment.
“He’s inspirational and he is playing as good as I’ve seen from any captain ever. I think his eight-week stretch… they’re talking about how he could have 40 Brownlow votes. The way he is influencing games is as good as I’ve seen (from a captain).”
Cripps’ brilliant form sees him enjoying an unprecedented level of success at Carlton, with the club boasting a 6-2 record and ending round eight inside the top four.
Carlton’s six wins is one short of equalling the most successful season Cripps has experienced in the AFL since making his debut in 2014.
Cornes was not the only one to be left impressed by Cripps’ early-season form, with Essendon great Matthew Lloyd saying the Carlton skipper would be his choice as the All-Australian captain for this season, ahead of Melbourne captain Max Gawn.
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Cripps’ hot start to the season has seen him firm as the bookmakers’ favourite to take out the 2022 Brownlow Medal, with Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale, who won the Brownlow in 2020, the second favourite.
After convincingly dispatching of the Adelaide Crows in round eight, Cripps’ Blues face a much tougher task in round nine, up against the GWS Giants away from home.