Patrick Cripps Under Pressure as Matthew Lloyd Urges Carlton’s Senior Players to ‘Raise Their Game’

This week, no one in the AFL is under as much scrutiny as Carlton’s head coach Michael Voss. However, former Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd has shifted the spotlight onto the Blues’ leadership group.

Even Patrick Cripps, Carlton’s long-serving captain and powerful inside midfielder, has come under fire from Lloyd.

In the aftermath of Carlton’s surprising loss to North Melbourne on Saturday, the legendary Bombers goal-scorer expressed that he is “questioning” the Blues’ leadership and urged the club’s senior players to “lift their game.”

Carlton’s leadership group features captain Cripps, along with vice-captains Jacob Weitering, Sam Walsh, and Charlie Curnow.

“When I consider the senior players at Carlton, we often discuss how talented their top six or seven are,” Lloyd remarked on Nine’s Footy Classified on Monday evening.

“However, I see Collingwood as a benchmark in many respects, particularly in the way they influence matches—not just through their on-field performance, but also in their off-field leadership. One must question whether Carlton’s senior players have ever truly done that, or if they do it sufficiently?

Footy Classified is now available as a podcast! Subscribe/follow via Apple, Spotify or Google Podcasts

“If you consider their senior core players and compare them with the elite, [Scott] Pendlebury is exceptional, and Darcy Moore is a fantastic leader, while Steele Sidebottom has a great track record as well.

“I am now questioning the effectiveness of the leadership group at Carlton.”

Meanwhile, Carlton’s CEO Brian Cook has already set ambitious targets for the club at the AFL’s season launch.

“Our aim is to finish in the top four and see how we fare in the finals,” Cook stated during an interview with 9News at Sydney’s Luna Park. “We’re not backing away from these goals.”

Despite these lofty aspirations, the Blues sit in 10th place on the ladder after 14 games, with a record of six wins and eight losses.

They have also suffered 15 defeats in their last 23 matches, dating back to round 18 of the previous season.

Lance Franklin, the Hawthorn and Sydney icon, remarked this week on his podcast, The Buddy & Shane Show, co-hosted with former teammate Shane Crawford, that a coaching change at Carlton “is necessary as soon as possible.”

Lloyd noted, “[Sam] Walsh is still young … and he’s dealt with quite a few injuries.” He also raised doubts about whether Curnow and Harry McKay possess the leadership qualities needed. “Sure, Cripps has an impressive career record, but I’m not convinced he measures up to the calibre of those champion leaders in other sides.”

“Ultimately, it falls on the senior players. While Michael Voss has faced his share of critique, there is no doubt the players must elevate their performance to support their coach.”

Jimmy Bartel, the former Geelong captain and 2007 Brownlow Medallist, shared reflections from his early days at the Cats.

“Certain senior players expressed that they didn’t want to squander their careers—10-15 years in the game—playing for little more than personal accolades,” Bartel recalled.

“So the question that emerges is: how do you inspire this group to push beyond their limits and uplift standards? What often happens is that players have a career spanning 10-15 years, earning respect for being solid contributors, but without having achieved any significant success. I don’t think players want to look back at a career that just says, ‘I was decent; we didn’t win much’.”

Carlton is set to clash with Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval this Thursday night for the opening match of round 16.