That’s a credit to the strong relationship between Voss and Cripps,coming after the latter’s relationship with former coach David Teague last year appeared rocky.

Teague,at times,was critical of players “trying to do something extra to help the side,” while Teague appeared to take a shot at an injured Cripps for over-handballing in the final match of the season against the Giants. This came a day after Teague’s manager Liam Pickering had questioned Cripps’ lack of public support for the embattled coach and declared “it’s been a long time since he has delivered in a consistent manner both ways in a game of football and actually puts defensive pressure on,chases and tackles”.

The Blues’ recruiters also deserve credit. The decision to sign former Swan George Hewett,a robust midfielder (although he has missed the past fortnight),and former Dockers’ midfielder Adam Cerra was the right call to not only free up Cripps but to help fellow star midfielder Sam Walsh. That Matt Kennedy has also had a break-out season has given the Blues a “high-five” on-ball brigade.

Cripps’ unrelenting style begun to take a physical and mental toll,and meant he had been regularly strapped or taped up. But that’s not been as prevalent this season. Cripps is running with a freedom and playing with the joy of a man knowing,as Essendon great Matthew Lloyd pointed out,the world is no longer on his shoulders. A rebuilt,streamlined body has also been a key factor.

“He[Cripps] takes clearly the main credit for that,as does our high-performance team. They have done a fantastic job getting him in the condition he is in right now but,importantly for him,he has been able to train every single session,he has hardly missed. He has been extremely durable,” Voss said.

Teammates,including Nic Newman,have also noticed Cripps’ freshness.

“I think his body is feeling good,which helps. The amount of work he puts in through the week,he is as professional as anyone you will ever see. He is bloody determined to get this club to where he wants it to be,” Newman said.

Cripps enjoys a mid-week surf when possible,which he says allows him to reset and then “crank it up for the next game”. Teammates marvel at his attention to detail,including the manner in which he plans his week and holds himself accountable.

His form has been so strong he has likely polled at least a dozen Brownlow Medal votes to this point,while Lloyd says the three-time best and fairest and dual All-Australian would be All-Australian captain,should that team be selected now.

For Cripps though,all that matters is a belated finals run. That two more wins this season will equal a season-high for him underlines how tough a time he has endured in what has largely been two decades of waste at Princes Park.

Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country.Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.