AFLCA votes: Patrick achieves a perfect score of 10.
Carlton’s captain, Patrick Cripps, earned a perfect score of 10 AFLCA votes for his outstanding performance during the Round 6 match against the Giants. Cripps showcased his physical prowess in the midfield, amassing an impressive 39 disposals, including 24 contested possessions, and securing 13 clearances (including eight center clearances), contributing significantly to the team’s midfield dominance. This exceptional display places Cripps in seventh position on the AFLCA leaderboard after Round 6, tied with Harry McKay.
Sam Walsh also demonstrated his excellence in the midfield, earning eight AFLCA votes. Walsh stood out with 35 disposals, 11 of which were contested possessions, and gained a team-high of 511 meters, while also recording the most score involvements (17) for a Blue since this statistic was first recorded. With a total of 17 coaches’ votes from his first two games of the 2024 season, Walsh continues to impress.
The ruck duo of Tom De Koning and Marc Pittonet also caught the attention of coaches, each receiving three votes. Carlton’s dominance in the midfield battle was evident with 41-28 hitouts and 48-32 clearances, largely attributed to the excellent coordination between De Koning and Pittonet. De Koning showcased his versatility by contributing three career-high goals and eight contested possessions, while Pittonet’s physical presence resulted in seven clearances and 25 hitouts.
Matt Kennedy rounded out the votes with a single vote. Despite starting strongly with 17 first-half disposals in his 100th game milestone, Kennedy had to adapt his role after Zac Williams was substituted out. Nevertheless, Kennedy finished strongly with 27 disposals, six intercepts, and contributed a crucial goal to seal the victory for his team.
