Carlton captain Patrick Cripps looked as ready as he has ever been in front of a media scrum this morning on the hallowed turf of IKON Park.
After doing the dignitaries and formalities with a new sponsorship announcement for the club, Cripps got stuck into what is ahead for pre-season and 2024.
The Blues skipper has had to learn how to manage external noise during his time at the Blues, particularly since becoming a leader of the club.
Some one-on-one time with high-performance psychologist Dr Michael Gervais, who wrote a book named ‘The First Rule of Mastery: Stop worrying about what other people think’, was a key part of Cripps’ summer.
“I was lucky enough when I was in America last year to get two hours of his (Michael Gervais’) time, which I was pretty pumped about because I listen to his podcast a fair bit,” Cripps explained on Monday.
“He wrote the book and this (not worrying about what people think), I think it is really important, we experienced this last season in the middle part, it’s about controllables.
“You put your time and energy into the things you can control, have trust and listen to the people around you.
“The external (noise) does not come into it, but all of this is a lot easier said than done.”
The irony in this last quote is Cripps has yet to open a page of the book, but plans to do so this week, as the Blues prepare for the Christmas break with a last stint of training.
“I’m going to the start the book tonight,’ Cripps laughed.
“So, hopefully in a week or two I can give you all a debrief about it.”
For Carlton, it is clear everything has become about ‘doing it’ rather than telling the football world it will be done when it comes to winning on the big stage.
There are a handful of players Cripps believes can take the next step and further add to the spiked on-field performance from the Blues in 2024.
His young midfield constituent Jack Carroll, new recruit Elijah Hollands, and draftees Ashton Moir and Billy Wilson have all taken the eye through the first block of pre-season training.
“There is always growth from these young guys,” Cripps said.
“Jack Carroll has come back in really good condition in his fourth year, Elijah Hollands coming in has been training really well and he’s fitted in with his brother Oli there as well which has helped.
“Even the new boys, Ashton, Billy… they’ve done most sessions, really had a crack and that is all you can ask the young guys, to come in and win respect.”
In what is the first season Cripps enters with a finals win next to his name, he is adamant there are still many levels to find within the playing group and football club.
With finals experience now under their belt and riding the crest of a Navy-Blue wave heading into 2024, growth in leadership is also set to bear fruit according to the Carlton skipper.
“I feel the whole energy around the club is definitely going forward together and when you do get a taste of it (finals), it really drives you to keep going,” Cripps said.
“We are a group that has stayed together for a long time and we are trying to find ways to level up and to get so close last year just drives the motivation.
“We feel from a leadership point of view we are still growing as well.
“Knowing the core of group has not hit a peak yet and there is still a lot of natural development to come is really exciting.”
Carlton will have a tough opening to the 2024 season, traveling to Queensland to take on Brisbane before a short turnaround to their classic Round 1 clash with Richmond.
