Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Carlton defender Nic Newman has gone in to bat for captain Patrick Cripps, saying critics unfairly judged the inspirational leader earlier in the season.
Cripps has been at the forefront of the Blues’ remarkable revival in a seven-match winning streak under interim coach Josh Fraser.
The hot form has propelled them into the finals picture less than two months after Michael Voss was sacked, following a 1-8 opening to his fifth season in charge.
Cripps was under intense scrutiny amid the horror start, with the harshest of critics even suggesting the game had gone past the two-time Brownlow medallist.
But Cripps was voted best afield by the coaches in four of the Blues’ first six games under Fraser, and equal-best in another, as he led the mid-season resurgence.
“Crippa’s harshly judged at times,” Newman told reporters on Monday.
“He had a couple of down games earlier in the year, but he’s also got a bloke hanging off him and following him around everywhere.
“He played some good footy early in the year, but probably just had a couple of down games, and everyone was pretty quick to jump on.
“He’s a champion of the game and he’s been in great form and led from the front.”
Newman was also full of praise for Cripps’ midfield partner George Hewett, who has rebounded from a stint in the VFL.
Hewett, who won Carlton’s best-and-fairest award last year, spent one month out of the senior side before he was recalled for what turned out to be Voss’ final match in charge.
The 30-year-old ball-winner has averaged more than 26 disposals and one goal per game over his last six outings, and shapes as a key figure in the Blues’ finals aspirations.
“Anyone who knows George’s character knew that he was going to fight through that little patch,” Newman said.
“He’s just such a hard worker that it was always going to turn for him.”
Hewett joked Fraser was “The Messiah” for Carlton, but said there was no secret to the turnaround in fortunes since the interim coach took over.
“We feel like we’ve been doing a pretty good job for large parts of the year and been playing some good footy, but we’ve just had patches which were letting us down,” Newman said.
“We’ve been able to stay present and hold momentum – that’s been a big one and we’ve put a lot of work into that – and I think there’s a lag effect.
“You work at something and try to arrest momentum and it probably takes four or five weeks before you see those results.
“We’ve been defending a lot better behind the ball, been a little bit more connected.”
Carlton (8-8) sit 10th ahead of a huge clash with third-placed Hawthorn (10-5-1) at the MCG on Saturday night.
The Hawks will likely be bolstered by the return of star forward Nick Watson, who missed the loss to Melbourne with hamstring tightness.
“”It’s going to be a huge test. They play the ‘G really well and they’ll probably get a few back as well,” Newman said.
