Following Carlton's 41-point loss to Essendon on Sunday, Bombers legend Tim Watson had some concerns for the Blues and star midfielder Patrick Cripps.
Cripps was kept to just 11 disposals by second-gamer Dylan Clarke and had little impact throughout the contest.
With the Blues starting the season 1-10, Watson believes Cripps is under immense pressure to lead the team on field, and wonders if it's catching up with the 24-year-old already.
โHas too much pressure been applied to this young man?โ Watson told SEN Breakfast on Monday.
โI saw him play last week against St Kilda and I thought he was good, but I thought he was beaten by Jack Steele.
โYesterday he had none of the ball, he wasnโt going to get into the game at any stage, which isnโt to take anything away from Dylan Clarke who kept him to 11 possessions, but itโs so unusual isnโt it?
โIโve never seen him have less influence on a game. Is it possible you can get worn down both physically and mentally because of the workload that he is required to give as a player, the leadership he is required to show?
โAt what point does it start to tear you apart as an individual?โ
Watson's co-host Garry Lyon went one step further, and asked if a change of scenery would bring out the best from the centre clearance king.
โYou could pose the question to Tom Lynch up at the Gold Coast Suns who had a tough time up there, they struggled, couldnโt get anything right, they were getting belted, he was shouldering responsibility, he was captain, and he said, 'Enough, Iโm coming back to Melbourne',โ Lyon said.
โAll of a sudden heโs not the captain, he doesnโt have any of the pressure he had every single minute of every single game up at the Suns, heโs got Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Jack Riewoldt, Alex Rance, Dylan Grimes and everyone else who can shoulder that responsibility and all he has to worry about is playing.
โImagine if Patrick Cripps arrived at Geelong like Tim Kelly did. Imagine if he was just slotted into that midfield. These are the sliding doors moments that can sometimes define careers.
โPatrick Cripps is going to be a Hall of Famer, I suspect, but itโll be harder work than if he was at a club where the load was shared and success was just expected every game.โ
