What a year:Patrick Cripps won his fourth John Nicholls medal,capping a fine season when he was crowned Brownlow medallist.Credit:AFL Photos
The robust midfielder polled 181 votes,including five best-on-ground performances,one being the shattering one-point loss to Collingwood in round 23 which denied the Blues a finals berth,to edge Sam Docherty (173) and Sam Walsh (163) for the top award.
Coach Michael Voss said Cripps,still yet to play in a final after nine seasons,was building an impressive legacy,having also won the medal in 2015,’18 and ’19.
“Only two other players have done what Patrick has in the 158 years of our football club. That tells you a lot about the legacy he is building at Carlton,” Voss said.
“The biggest part of his legacy though is what most people don’t see. The work he does as a
leader,to set standards and drive those standards to ultimately have us in a position to be
successful over the coming years – that is infectious across the entire football club.
Sam Docherty was battling testicular cancer this time last year but on Friday night finished runner-up in the John Nicholls medal count.Credit:Getty Images.
“Patrick is incredibly driven to see us succeed and,while it’s not individual awards that
motivate him,to be a four-time John Nicholls medallist,equalling one of the all-time greats in Bruce Doull,that is an achievement that deserves to be celebrated.”
Cripps averaged 28 disposals,15 contested possessions and eight clearances a game,missing only one game for the season after a frustrating two years. He also booted a career-high 20 goals.