Patrick Cripps has carried the Blues in recent years.Credit:Getty Images
I’ve said a thousand times that clubs can take the heat off players by being more open about what’s troubling them. Even now,the Blues haven’t detailed the full extent of Cripps’ concerns.
While Cripps would never use injury as an excuse,it certainly provides important context to some of his recent performances –particularly the second half against the Dogs last week. Regardless,the criticism of him has been unwarranted. All of this in a year he’s coming out of contract.
The Blues have put themselves between a rock and a hard place ahead of the negotiations with Cripps,and even spearheadHarry McKay.
I’ve always been happy for players to get what they can. This is not a knock on them. Having said that,the Blues have spent big money onMitch McGovern – $800,000 a year,according to Mark Ricciuto – before gettingZac Williams on a similarly sizeable deal during last year’s trade period. Any notion that Cripps,even out of form,is worth less than those guys is utter nonsense. If Williams is worth $900,000 a season,then Cripps is every bit a $1 million man.
Without Cripps,the Blues’ midfield is wafer-thin. Without him,would Sam Walsh be able to produce at the same level given the likely attention he’d receive?
Carlton’s situation also begs the question:could those high-priced recruits cause a little disharmony? Players talk. They’re sometimes only hushed conversations in cafes,but they do happen. It can also become more of a problem if those on big money are failing to deliver week in,week out. And that is a problem the Blues are currently facing.
That type of money should only be spent on the absolute best key position players or midfielders,not half-back flankers,or players yet to truly establish themselves as marquee men.