AFL pre-season: New rules raise eyebrows as Cripps and Carlton give reigning premiers the Blues

You know that old saying that you take pre-season results with a grain of salt? Well, Carlton fans are set to be the latest group of supporters to be severely tested by that.

In the first full match of new coach Michael Voss’ reign, the Blues couldn’t have done more to leave everyone associated with the club daring to dream of a surge up the ladder in 2022, taking down reigning premiers Melbourne by 5 points on the back of a first-half onslaught.

33 points up at half time courtesy of a ten goals to two burst, spearheaded by a vintage performance from captain Patrick Cripps, a sizeable crowd at Marvel Stadium for a pre-season stoush was thrilled with what they were seeing.

While the second half wasn’t quite as impressive as the Blues, minus gun key back Jacob Weitering, leaked goals with concerning ease to a Dees outfit still operating in second gear, they were able to rise to the challenge in the final minutes, dominating possession when the margin drew to under a goal and hanging on for the win in the end.

Both sides can exit this match relatively content. For the Blues, victory, a reintroduction to top-flight footy for spearhead Harry McKay after an injury-interrupted pre-season, and a sign Cripps will be back to his best; for the Dees, they got out of the match with no major concerns for their key players.

Here’s what we learned from the first match of the AAMI Community series.

Carlton 15.8 (98) defeated Melbourne 14.9 (93) by 5 points at Marvel Stadium.

Knick-knack, Paddy’s back

After consecutive seasons falling below his lofty expectations, there were genuine fears the strain Patrick Cripps’ bash-and-crash game style had broken him well before his time.

After a horror run with injuries to start last season – including, among other things, a broken back – the Blues bull never ascended the heights that saw him in the conversation for the game’s best player in 2019; with younger teammate Sam Walsh taking over the mantle as the Blues’ midfield maestro, Cripps seemed destined to live out his days playing Robin to Walsh’s Batman.

But with the former number one draft pick out with a severe ankle injury until at least the early rounds of the season proper, the Blues’ midfield was once again in Cripps’ hands – and didn’t he relish it.

Just as impressive as his nine first-quarter disposals was his five tackles, including a brutal one in the opening minutes to win himself a free kick. But better was to come: six more touches in the second term, two of them goals.

He’d add three and four in the third term – the first of those, a bulldozing effort in which he shrugged off none other than reigning premiership captain Max Gawn before finishing clinically, you could hang in the Louvre.

Cripps would end with four goals amid 31 possessions. He’s back.

Almost as brilliant was midfield compatriot Matthew Kennedy, who looked determined to continue the form he displayed at the end of 2021 to go from fringe forward to a starting-bounce lock. No doubt his 37 touches and nine clearances would have delighted the new coach, as would have his equal game-high nine marks.

“It’s a Michael Voss-type game,” Garry Lyon crowed of Kennedy after a towering grab late in the last quarter; though Kennedy couldn’t quite live up to the comparison with an ugly kick that missed the lot.

With George Hewett (31 touches), Adam Cerra (30) and Zac Fisher (24) all finding plenty of the footy, it seems the Blues can indeed cover for Walsh in the short-term. And when he comes back, look out.

New rules cause a stir as Dees just keep sinning

If it wasn’t apparent in last week’s scratch matches, it will be now: the umpires are set to crack down on player behaviour like never before in 2022.

Copping it the most were the Demons, with James Jordon become the first victim of the new ‘time wasting’ rules as he dallied too long to hand the ball to Lochie O’Brien after a push in the back, costing a 50-metre penalty.

Then, in a reminder as to the last few crops of rule changes, teammate Jack Viney was pinged a further 50 metres for encroaching on the protected space around O’Brien.

Not even captain Gawn escaped, conceding a 50 and a certain goal for abusing the umpire in what commentator Jason Dunstall deemed a ‘cheap drive-by’.

“All the new rules are on display!” co-commentator and proud Demon Garry Lyon exclaimed.

All up, the Dees would conceded two time-wasting 50m penalties and three for ‘umpire dissent’ – they’ll need to clean up their act, and fast, though to be clear, this one purportedly against Christian Petracca was actually against teammate Tom McDonald in the background.

But that wasn’t the end to the Dees’ night of trouble. They would also be caught three times for failing to comply with the ‘6-6-6’ starting formation for every centre bounce. It came back to bite them in the final moments when, four points down with two and a half minutes on the clock, the Blues were gifted a free kick straight out of the middle. Having come home with a wet sail, the Dees wouldn’t threaten to steal the win again.

Don’t have a Plow, man

Every team has a whipping boy, and at Carlton in recent years, that man has been Lachie Plowman. Derided by fans despite repeat placings near the top of the best-and-fairest placings, the mid-sized defender looked set to fight for his spot in the best 22 alongside recruits Oscar McDonald and Lewis Young.

But despite the loss of Weitering before the game, Plowman would raise eyebrows by lining up as a forward after coming on in the final term. While he’d only finish with two possessions and one behind to show for it, his attack on the ball and safe hands were noteworthy, clutching a mark inside 50 in the final minute to ensure the Blues couldn’t lose.

It will be a challenge for Plowman to break into the Blues’ attack, with McKay and Charlie Curnow (absent through knee soreness) the obvious top pillars. But stranger things have certainly happened.

Patrick Cripps runs with the ball during the AFL AAMI Community Series match between Carlton and Melbourne. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Grand final be damned, Gawn ain’t goin’ anywhere

The remarkable success of young ruckman Luke Jackson in the Dees’ infamous surge in the third quarter of the grand final left many thinking the 20-year old was finally ready to step into the role of number one ruckman that has been Max Gawn’s for half a decade.

It seems Gawn, though, took that personally, for the skipper was the obvious number one man from the word go against the Blues. Relishing the chance to battle doughty but outclassed Blues pair Marc Pittonet and Tom De Koning, Gawn’s 28 hitouts were matched for effectiveness by his trademark brilliance around the ground.

Taking nine marks and finishing with 23 disposals, Gawn still oversaw a midfield that was by and large beaten by the Blues’ less highly fancied brigade. But with Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver in particular looking like they were just going through the motions – as well they might – you can bet that trio will still be giving most opponents sleepless nights in 2022.