Patrick Cripps.Credit:AAP
Curnow had led with five rounds remaining but Cripps polled strongly over the season's final month to pocket back-to-back medals,joining his maiden individual celebration of 2015.
In his first season as co-captain,although he was the on-field skipper for the entire year after Sam Docherty again required a knee reconstruction,Cripps thrived to the point he joins Stephen Kernahan,Craig Bradley,Chris Judd,John James and Brett Ratten as three-time winners of the Nicholls Medal. Only Bruce Doull (four) and Nicholls (five) have won more.
Coach David Teague,who replaced Brendon Bolton through the season,said Cripps had elevated his game.
"'Crippa'is exceptional. To have won three John Nicholls Medals at just 24 is amazing. He now puts himself alongside some of the club’s best and he thoroughly deserves that,"he said.
"He is just such a competitor who works tirelessly to get his job done week in and week out. He sets the standards for our group and works to get the best out of not only himself but the whole group. It’s exciting for us to think that he has only just played 100 games and we think his best footy is still ahead of him."
We think his best footy is still ahead of him.
Carlton coach David Teague
Cripps finished equal third in the Brownlow Medal count,including three best-afield performances and 13 votes after five rounds. In a year when the Blues had only one win through the opening 11 rounds before finishing the season strongly under Teague,the midfielder's ability to dominate was shown in that he finished only seven votes behind Brownlow winner Nat Fyfe.