Latest news with #PatrickCripps
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Milestone man Greene lights up as Giants flex muscles
GWS superstar Toby Greene celebrated his 250-game milestone in style with a starring role in his side's hard-fought 28-point win over Carlton. Moved into the midfield to cover for injured teammates, Greene was an influential figure throughout the Giants' 17.8 (110) to 12.10 (82) victory at Marvel Stadium on Saturday. The inspirational skipper tallied 28 disposals, six clearances and three goals as GWS improved their record to 6-5, following four defeats in their previous five games. Carlton, meanwhile, slipped to 4-7 heading into their mid-season bye. Greene produced a huge opening term - 11 disposals, four score involvements and two goals - and kicked the sealer to help GWS resist a late challenge. He had plenty of teammates willing to get their hands dirty, with Tom Green (25 disposals), Lachie Whitfield (27), Lachie Ash (28) and Xavier O'Halloran (19) all busy. Jesse Hogan (four), Jake Riccardi (three), Callum Brown (three) and Aaron Cadman (two) all kicked multiple goals as the Giants posted their second-highest score of the season. 250 games for Toby Greene!And of course, the banner mentioned the fines 😂#AFLBluesGiants — AFL (@AFL) May 24, 2025 Blues captain Patrick Cripps struck the first blow in his battle with Toby Bedford, soaring for a mark on the tagger's shoulders and nailing a perfectly executed snap at goal. There were eight lead changes in the first half but none after the main break as GWS, whose greater efficiency in attack led to a 10-point half-time advantage, kept their noses in front. There was controversy when Bedford hurt his right shoulder attempting a tackle and umpires stopped play nearby several seconds later, deeming the injured player was in some danger. Carlton ruckman Tom De Koning had possession when a ball-up was called, while Bedford took his place next to Cripps at the ensuing stoppage despite his injury. Meanwhile, the Giants turned for home with a 14-point buffer when Riccardi delivered a dagger on the three-quarter time siren. GWS ruckman Kieren Briggs produced a highlight when he directly volleyed through a left-foot shot at a ball-up against De Koning at the top of the goal square. Carlton briefly got within nine points in the final term, but the Giants kicked the last three goals of the contest. Sam Docherty had 30 disposals and a goal on return for the Blues, who had few clear winners, with Sam Walsh (26 touches) and Cripps (25, one goal) also busy. Charlie Curnow kicked two of his three goals in the first quarter, but the Giants' defenders largely kept the Blues' tall forwards out of the contest. Carlton's defeat came despite their dominance in contested possession (154-116) and inside-50s (58-47).
ABC News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
West Coast Eagles honour Adam Selwood and find a blueprint to winning — what we learned from round 10
Faced with the most tragic circumstances, the Eagles played with a level of spirit not seen so far this season. A bold coaching ploy unlocked Clayton Oliver and sparked Melbourne's season, while Essendon's defensive mettle failed a major test against the Bulldogs. Here's what we learned from Round 10 of the AFL season. The entire AFL community was plunged into sadness on Saturday after the death of Adam Selwood just months after his twin brother Troy took his own life. Between playing, mentoring and coaching in the league, there is barely a corner of the league untouched by the four Selwood brothers, including out west, where Adam played 187 games and won a premiership in 2018 with the Eagles. A pre-match tribute video before Sunday's game against St Kilda marked a sombre occasion at Perth Stadium, with anguish visible on faces across the cavernous arena, particularly that of Selwood's former teammate Patrick Cripps. What ensued was an inspirational performance from the first siren to the last from the Eagles; the kind of outing on which Selwood built his career. Matches in highly emotional environments usually go one of two ways: it either has a galvanising effect on the team, or can highlight how minor football feels in the grand scheme of things. For whatever reason, the Eagles turned in their best performance under Andrew McQualter, who would be thrilled by a true team effort. Brady Hough was the leading ball-winner on the ground with 24 touches, while the Eagles had 11 different goal-kickers. After a choppy start to his season, Harley Reid was influential in the Eagles getting the lead, kicking two goals and taking a towering mark over skipper Oscar Allen, who he then helped up. As the Saints threatened to steal it early in the fourth quarter, West Coast's veterans stood up. Tim Kelly, Jack Graham and Liam Baker were all influential, while Liam Ryan put the game to bed with two goals in as many minutes. One win doesn't immediately change West Coast's fortunes. The Eagles will suffer many more losses through the course of this season, but if they can get impactful performances across the park more regularly, the wins won't be so few and far between. After stumbling out to an 0-5 start, Melbourne's finals hopes are alive after four wins in its last five outings. The Demons faded in the final quarter last week against Hawthorn, but showed tremendous grit to overturn a three-quarter-time deficit against the Brisbane Lions in Brisbane to sit 4-6 and just a game outside the top eight. Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin was roundly criticised for playing Clayton Oliver as a tagger last week (even though he held his opponent Jai Newcombe to just 19 disposals), and Goodwin responded to the criticism by using Oliver the same way again. For some reason, the majority of AFL teams still refuse to use taggers, even though the use of one seems extremely beneficial on most occasions. Coaches prefer to back their midfield unit to outgun opposing midfield units, suggesting the deployment of a specialist tagger is basically an admission of your midfield group being weaker than your opponent's. Oliver didn't shut Neale out by tagging him — the Lions star still managed to pick up 30 disposals and six clearances — but playing the role of Neale's shadow seemed to remind Oliver that he is a prolific clearance player himself. This is one of the benefits of following around a prolific midfielder: you, too, get to be around the ball a whole lot. Oliver was a major beneficiary of this, picking up seven clearances, his equal-highest in a game since Round 4. Oliver brought the heat, recording a season-high 36 pressure acts against the Lions, but also proved damaging going the other way, recording season-highs in metres gained (364) and inside 50s (five). A slow start means Melbourne needs a lot to go right to make the eight. Getting the clearance machine version of Oliver back will go a long way to helping them achieve their goal. Saturday night's clash against the Western Bulldogs had all the makings of a big litmus test for Essendon, who had come into the game having strung a pretty good month together. What ensued was a reminder to the Bombers that there were still levels to go before they could mix it with some of the big boys in the league. The Bombers' energy and effort were good in the opening minutes, but once the Bulldogs kicked their first goal, the floodgates opened. Essendon had been one of the best defensive teams in the league in the last month by virtue of playing keepings off. The real test was always going to come without the ball, and the Dons were without the ball for a lot of the 91-point loss to the Dogs. Brad Scott's team ranks second in the league in disposals per game and third in marks per game. When they've got the ball, the Bombers slowly chip the ball around laterally before a better option opens up down the ground. Against the lesser teams in the league, where discipline is an issue, this is a strategy that works because eventually someone switches off and causes a breakdown in the defensive zone, allowing the Bombers to chip their way through. That didn't work against the Bulldogs. At one point in the second quarter, the Bulldogs had 36 disposals in their forward half of the ground for the quarter compared to the Bombers' zero in the same metric. It was like dying a slow death for the Bombers. Essendon is right in wanting to build a good defensive system — you don't win finals without being able to defend — but sometimes attack is the best form of defence, and the Bombers would be well-served to move the ball forward a little more rapidly. It is never a good result to lose by 91 points, but this might be one of those results that serves the Bombers well in the long run. The club has consistently preached a message of patience under Scott's tenure, now into its third year, and results like these show there are still several major steps that need to be made.
West Australian
12-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Mid West AFL round wrap: Jamie Cripps and Liam Ryan among the Eagles' best in two-point loss to Richmond
West Coast went down in a heartbreaking two-point loss to Richmond at the MCG on Sunday as they continue to chase their first win of the season, but two Mid West players were among their best. Richmond got off to a quick start with three goals in rapid fire succession before former Ram, Jamie Cripps, hit back with a goal of his own to get the Eagles on the board. Cripps then created something out of nothing with a clever tap back to Jayden Hunt who kicked the Eagles' second before the end of the first term. The Eagles struck early in the second quarter through Matt Owies cutting the margin back to just a point. The second half was a back and forth affair with neither team willing to budge as the Eagles clawed their way back in to the contest. It was goal-for-goal but in the end the Eagles fell agonisingly short 11.15 (81) to 11.13 (79). Northampton's Cripps starred in the forward line for the Eagles with 15 disposals and three goals. Liam Ryan finished his day with 17 disposals and four clearances while Tyler Brockman amassed 18 disposals and five clearances and a goal. Fellow Northampton product Patrick Cripps and the Blues got an important win against the Saints at the MCG on Friday night, a much welcomed result after last week's 60-point thumping at the hands of the Crows in Adelaide. A hard-nosed performance for Cripps has become a standard expectation from the Blues captain as once again he led from the front with an impressive midfield performance. The Blues drew ahead at the end of the first quarter, with their pressure putting the Saints on the back foot. St Kilda stayed in the contest in the second quarter, taking their opportunities in front of goal when they presented themselves. Carlton maintained their lead in a back and forth contest, providing the answers when the Saints posed the questions, with the Blues' Cooper Lord and Harry McKay putting the result beyond doubt with late goals. Carlton ended up winners, 11.11 (77) to 6.8 (62). Patrick Cripps finished his night with 26 disposals and eight clearances. Geraldton's Judd McVee and his Melbourne Demons went down against Hawthorn on Saturday at the MCG with the 21-year-old finishing his day with 20 disposals and nine marks. Hawthorn got the better of the Dees at home, 13.13 (91) to 7.14 (56).
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
McKay's clutch goal seals gutsy AFL win over Saints
Harry McKay has capped his outstanding game with the match-sealing goal as Carlton beat St Kilda by 15 points in an AFL arm wrestle. McKay kicked his third goal from an acute angle late in the last quarter as the Blues bounced back from last week's bad loss to Adelaide, winning 11.11 (77) to 9.8 (62). The MCG clash featured a crowd of 65,680 - easily a St Kilda-Carlton home and away record - for the annual "Spud's Game" in honour of late Saints great Danny Frawley. Carlton were outstanding, rallying from a succession of injuries that left them with one fit player on the bench at half time. McKay had 19 disposals and 10 marks, while captain Patrick Cripps was also outstanding. Amid speculation about St Kilda trying to lure him after this season, Carlton ruck Tom De Koning engaged in an engrossing duel with Rowan Marshall and racked up seven clearances. Harry McKay seals it from the boundary 😤#AFLSaintsBlues — AFL (@AFL) May 9, 2025 Blues key forward Charlie Curnow injured his knee at training during the week, he kicked three goals - all in the first half. The injury woes came elsewhere for the Blues. First, Mitch McGovern came off second-best in a clash with Liam O'Connell, and was subbed out of the game before being taken to hospital with a chest injury. The Blues jumped out to a 24-point lead in the second term and were piling the pressure on St Kilda. But as St Kilda started drawing level in contested possessions and gaining more territory, the Blues' interchange bench started looking like a casualty ward. Blake Acres went off with a shoulder injury, then Lachie Cowan was forced out with hamstring tightness. Nick Haynes, close to best afield in the first half, was left with a sore head after an accidental knock and Carlton ended the second term with only one available player on the bench. Haynes and Acres were able to start the third term, while Saints young gun Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was also struggling with leg problems. But Wanganeen-Milera stayed on the field and had a game-high 30 possessions. Cooper Sharman kicked his second goal and the Saints drew to within six points, but Carlton stood firm under the pressure. McKay kicked his second goal late in the quarter from a generous free kick and the Blues retained their halftime lead of 14 points at the last change. It was a dour arm wrestle in the third term. After 28 stoppages in the first half, there were a whopping 35 in the quarter. In a significant blow for St Kilda, small forward Jack Higgins was subbed out at three-quarter time, with club officials citing illness.
News.com.au
07-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
AFL 2025: Carlton star Tom De Koning speaks on contract status
Out-of-contract Carlton star Tom De Koning is in no rush to extend with the Blues, revealing he has 'plenty of things to weigh up'. De Koning is being targeted heavily by St Kilda with a monster deal in the vicinity of $1.7m a season. The 25-year-old big man is in career-best form and has parked contract extension talks until later in the season. 'I'm focusing at the moment on just playing my best footy for the team,' De Koning told SEN's Dwayne's World. 'All that other stuff is playing out in the background and I'm just focusing on my football – the other stuff is between the club and my manager. 'I'm not putting a timeline on it, we're comfortable with where everything sits and that will happen when it happens. 'I'm not in a different position to what any of my other teammates have been in. 'You look at 'Crippa' (Patrick Cripps), 'Walshy' (Sam Walsh), Harry (McKay), Charlie (Curnow), they've all been through it, and everyone is different. 'There's plenty of things to weigh up – but if I can play my best footy then I'm putting my best foot forward.' Carlton could still pitch De Koning a deal worth more than $1m a year but is not likely to be able to match the Saints' 'Godfather' offer. De Koning says the details of his impending deal at Carlton or St Kilda is not front of mind but admits he has to work out what is best for himself. 'I haven't thought too deeply about that to be honest. I've put myself in this position, so whatever gets offered, gets offered,' he said. 'That negotiation (the length of deal) has been between the club and my manager, (I am) kind of letting that play out. 'I'm very similar to other players. We're all in the same position and we're on a list where players are getting paid different amounts.
