Patrick Cripps sees something in Carlton others haven\u2019t.<\/p>\n
The Blues\u2019 captain isn\u2019t willing to rule out another year without that elusive premiership in 2026, affirming his personal drive and belief in an evolving group.<\/p>\n
Carlton is 1-4 after five starts and the reality of Cripps \u2013 in his 13th season \u2013 going another year without success is growing larger by the week.<\/p>\n
But the 31-year-old says \u201cit\u2019s still early\u201d and believes a win over arch rival Collingwood on Thursday night could be the \u201ckick start\u201d to their season. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt still drives me, I think any player that gets to the back end of their career that\u2019s the sole purpose you play for,\u201d Cripps said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe thing I learnt last year, a lot of us did, when you get too focused on the end result you lose the joy of the weekly stuff.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough that will be my goal for however long I keep playing for, I still love the game, I love training, I love competing.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy focus lately has been on really leading the boys – (at the) start of the week, we\u2019ve had a great energy and I think it\u2019s one thing as a group we\u2019ve done really well this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe start has been challenging – obviously haven\u2019t got the results – but the energy at the club and the way the boys have been training is as high as I\u2019ve ever felt it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI still have been loving going to the club, which is always the biggest challenge when you haven\u2019t been getting results.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s still early in the year, I feel there\u2019s a lot of potential in our group. We\u2019re looking forward to Thursday to really kick start our year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carlton was better against Adelaide last Thursday night, improving its second half blues, but still left without the four points.<\/p>\n
The loss came after coach Michael Voss made the shock omission of reigning best and fairest winner George Hewett.<\/p>\n
Cripps says Voss\u2019 decision \u201cin a way\u201d puts the rest of the Blues on notice.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always tough because someone like myself, he\u2019s a guy I love playing with,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve played four years together and you know what you\u2019re going to get from George, he\u2019s one of the most-loved teammates.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a way, but when you\u2019re not getting results you know you need to keep changing that mix.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you see the way he goes about it, the way he went about it this week, credit to him as a person.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe puts in as much work as anyone I have seen around the footy club and I love playing with him.\u201d<\/p>\n