Unfiltered: Carlton captain Patrick Cripps opens up on lowest point of his career
Unfiltered: Carlton captain Patrick Cripps opens up on lowest point of his career
Carlton captain Patrick Cripps has never been one to shy away from the hard work or the heavy expectations that come with leading one of the most storied clubs in AFL history. However, in a raw and deeply personal interview on the Unfiltered series with Hamish McLachlan, the Brownlow Medallist pulled back the curtain on the psychological and physical toll of the Blues' recent lean years. Cripps revealed that despite his meteoric rise as a young superstar, there was a period where the weight of the club's struggles combined with personal performance dips led him to a place he had never been before: a total loss of confidence. This honest admission has sent ripples through the AFL community, offering a rare glimpse into the mental health challenges faced by even the most resilient athletes at the top of their game.
Patrick Cripps identified the 2020 and 2021 AFL seasons as the lowest point of his career, describing them as the hardest years of his life. During this time, the Carlton captain struggled with a significant drop in form and a loss of on-field confidence as the team failed to meet expectations, eventually leading to a full external club review. Cripps managed to turn his career around by implementing a rigorous, obsessive three-month fitness and nutrition plan in Perth during the 2021 off-season, which directly preceded his 2022 Brownlow Medal-winning campaign.
The Dark Days: Navigating the 2020 and 2021 Seasons
For the first six years of his career, Patrick Cripps seemed almost invincible. Standing at 195cm and possessing a frame more akin to a key forward than a midfielder, he redefined what a modern "inside" player could be. He was winning Best and Fairest awards, earning All-Australian blazers, and polling Brownlow votes at a rate that suggested a medal was inevitable. But as the world changed in 2020, so did the trajectory of Cripps' career. The COVID-impacted seasons, characterized by hubs, shorter quarters, and constant uncertainty, became the backdrop for his greatest professional struggle.
Cripps admitted to McLachlan that for the first time in his life, he felt his confidence desert him. "My first six years went in a pretty upwards trend," Cripps noted. "And then I probably had two sort of quieter years and that was probably the first time I reckon as a player I started losing a little bit of confidence." The statistics backed up his feelings. His disposal averages dropped, his clearance dominance wavered, and the media began to question whether his massive body was starting to break down under the strain of carrying the Carlton midfield for half a decade. The mental burden of being a co-captain during a period where the team remained "rudderless" added a layer of exhaustion that few could appreciate from the outside.
A Captain Under Pressure: The Fallout of Coaching Changes
The "lowest point" wasn't just about his own stats; it was about the environment at Ikon Park. Cripps reflected on the sacking of Brendon Bolton in 2019 and the subsequent transition to David Teague. He revealed that at certain points, particularly after Bolton’s departure, he felt "mentally fried." As a leader, he felt responsible for the club’s culture and win-loss record, yet the results weren't coming. The external noise became a roar, with critics suggesting that Cripps was "washed" or that his best football was behind him before he even turned 27.
The 2021 season was particularly taxing. As Carlton languished outside the top eight and pressure mounted on the coaching staff, the club underwent a massive internal and external review. For Cripps, seeing his teammates and coaches under such scrutiny while he himself was struggling to impact games was a recipe for burnout. He described the period as a test of his resolve, forcing him to question what he needed to change to not only save his career but to lead the Blues back to relevance.
The Perth Plan: A Transformation Born of Obsession
Realizing that he couldn't continue on his current path, Cripps took drastic action following the conclusion of the 2021 season. He returned to his home state of Western Australia with a single-minded focus: to rebuild his body from the ground up. Collaborating with renowned high-performance expert Andrew Russell, Cripps mapped out a three-month plan that covered every facet of his life, from the intensity of his running sessions to the exact macro-nutrients in every meal.
“I remember I sat down with Andrew Russell and mapped out a three-month plan... every day I knew exactly what I was doing, I reckon even to what I ate,” Cripps said. This wasn't just a standard off-season; it was an obsession. He needed to find a way to be lighter and more explosive without losing the contested-ball strength that made him famous. By the time he returned for the 2022 pre-season, he felt like a different athlete. A practice match at Carlton early that year provided the "spark" he had been missing for two years. He knew then that the run of form was coming.
Climbing Back to the Top: The 2022 Brownlow Medal
The results of the Perth Plan were immediate and spectacular. In the opening round of the 2022 season against Richmond, Cripps exploded with 30 disposals and three goals, signaling to the rest of the competition that the "real" Patrick Cripps was back. He maintained that elite level throughout the year, culminating in one of the most dramatic Brownlow Medal counts in history. Needing three votes in the final round against Collingwood to overtake Lachie Neale, Cripps delivered a Herculean 35-disposal performance.
Winning the Brownlow was a validation of his hard work, but more importantly, it was the final nail in the coffin of his period of self-doubt. However, the victory was bittersweet. Despite his individual success, Carlton missed the finals by the barest of margins—a single point in the final game. It was a reminder that while he had conquered his personal "lowest point," the ultimate goal of team success remained unfulfilled.
| Career Phase | Key Challenges & Outcomes |
|---|---|
| 2015 - 2019 (The Rise) | Emergence as an elite inside midfielder; multiple B&F wins; AFLPA MVP. |
| 2020 - 2021 (The Low Point) | Loss of confidence; injury struggles; coaching changes; team underperformance. |
| Late 2021 (The Pivot) | Intense 3-month Perth training regime; obsessive focus on fitness and diet. |
| 2022 - Present (The Resurgence) | Brownlow Medal win; return to All-Australian form; leading Blues to finals. |
Leading Through Adversity: The Carlton Culture Shift
Cripps’ evolution as a leader has been just as significant as his physical transformation. Taking over the captaincy during a period of instability, he had to learn how to keep a playing group together when results weren't going their way. The mantra "Stronger Together" became more than just a slogan; it was a survival strategy. Cripps spoke about the difficulty of maintaining a positive environment in the face of constant external criticism and disappointment.
He credited current coach Michael Voss with understanding how to maximize his output while also building a support system around him. In the past, Cripps felt he had to "do the job of three people," which led to burnout. Under the current regime, he has learned to trust his teammates, allowing players like Sam Walsh and George Hewett to share the load. This shift has not only improved the team's performance but has also allowed Cripps to play with the joy and freedom he thought he had lost during the dark years of 2020 and 2021.
Team Success vs. Individual Glory: The Missing Piece
Despite the individual accolades, Cripps remains driven by a singular goal: a premiership. He noted that while people often ask if he would change the "lean years" at Carlton, his answer is always no. He believes that the hardship of the bottom-four finishes and the "lowest point" provided the necessary growth to build something sustainable. The preliminary final run in 2023 was a taste of what is possible, but for Cripps, it was only the beginning.
He described the feeling of playing in front of 90,000 people at the MCG during the finals as the ultimate reward for the "tough journey." The contrast between those moments and the empty stadiums of the 2020 hubs is stark. For Cripps, the energy of the Carlton "army" is a powerful motivator that helps him navigate the inevitable blips in form that come with a long career.
Fatherhood and Perspective: Beyond the Boundary
A significant factor in Cripps’ ability to handle the "extremes" of Carlton life has been his transition into fatherhood. He discussed how having a daughter has fundamentally changed his perspective on the game. In the past, a loss or a poor individual performance would consume him for days. Now, returning home to his family provides an immediate "off switch" that is vital for mental longevity in the AFL.
This new perspective has allowed him to be more resilient during challenging times, such as the difficult 2025 season. He mentioned that while he is still a "big optimist," he is also a "realist" who understands that life isn't perfect. Fatherhood has helped him realize that while football is his passion and his career, it doesn't define his entire existence. This balance is perhaps his greatest weapon against any future "low points."
The 2026 Vision: Why Cripps is Bullish
Looking ahead to the 2026 season, Patrick Cripps is as motivated as he has ever been. He admitted that the way previous seasons unfolded "stung," but that pain is what fuels the current pre-season drive. He is particularly excited about the development of the younger players at the club, urging them to "stay curious" and "keep having fun."
Cripps believes that Carlton is currently in a "vibe shift" era, where the stability of the senior core and the hunger of the youth are converging. He remains bullish about the club's prospects, emphasizing that the team must learn to thrive under the weight of expectation. For a man who has seen the absolute bottom and reached the absolute top, his message to the Carlton faithful is clear: the lessons have been learned, the work has been done, and the best is yet to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What did Patrick Cripps identify as his career's lowest point? He identified the 2020 and 2021 seasons as his lowest point due to a significant loss of confidence and team performance struggles.
- How did Patrick Cripps turn his career around in 2022? He committed to a rigorous three-month fitness and diet plan in Perth during the 2021 off-season, which helped him regain his explosive power.
- Has Patrick Cripps ever considered leaving Carlton? While he has faced many "lean years," Cripps has stated he wouldn't change his journey and is committed to building success from the ground up at Carlton.
- What role did Michael Voss play in Cripps' resurgence? Voss helped restructure the midfield to ensure Cripps didn't have to carry the entire load, allowing him to focus on his core strengths.
- How has fatherhood changed Patrick Cripps? It has provided him with a vital perspective, helping him "switch off" from football and remain resilient during tough periods.
Conclusion
Patrick Cripps' journey from a "mentally fried" captain in 2021 to a Brownlow Medallist and respected elder statesman of the competition is a testament to the power of resilience. By opening up about his lowest point, he has humanized the captaincy and provided a blueprint for how to handle professional and personal adversity. As Carlton enters the 2026 season with high expectations, the lessons Cripps learned during his darkest hours will undoubtedly be the foundation upon which the club seeks its next premiership. His story serves as a reminder that confidence isn't a permanent state—it's something that must be nurtured, fought for, and occasionally rebuilt from scratch.
Unfiltered: Carlton captain Patrick Cripps opens up on lowest point of his career
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