Blues skipper Patrick Cripps has praised his wife Monique for having their first child during the week so he could spend time with them before heading to Adelaide.
“I was worried she would come next week but Mon played her role perfectly and had her this week so I was able to spend a couple of days with her and little Koda. I’m keen to get back and see her,” Cripps told Fox Footy.
“I know everyone says it changes your life. It’s only been a short time but the love you have for your child is pretty special.”
Patrick Cripps spoke to Fox Footy post game.
“It’s been a crazy week,” he said after his wife Monique gave birth to their baby daughter this week.
“We do a lot of scenario training. We got up late and then they went two goals ahead,” Cripps said.
Patrick Cripps celebrates a goal.Credit: AFL Photos
“A lot of the games we have won, we were in front so to come from behind, we showed some composure. Cotts and Matt Kennedy stood up for us late in those big pressure moments.
“We just find a way to win mate. We’ve had some heartache over the years and lost some close ones, so now the boys are composed in those moments now.”
Cripps said he wasn’t sure what happened on the final free kick.
“I was nervous that the ball may have been touched before the mark,” Cripps told Fox Footy.
“I thought it was a [score] review but then it was dissent. It made our job much easier in the middle instead of scrambling.
“You take those ones when you can.”
UPDATED: The Blues continue their knack of winning tight matches however this victory will be controversial. The Dockers players believed a George Hewett kick that landed in the arms of Matt Cottrell inside 50 had been touched by James Aish.
In fact, they believed, one of the umpires had called ‘touched play on’ while the ball was in the air.
Matthew Cottrell of the Blues celebrates a goal.Credit: Getty Images
However, Cottrell was paid the mark and went back to kick the goal and put the Blues in front.
As tempers flared a Dockers’ player – which appeared to be Jordan Clark – made a comment to the umpire which led to a second free kick being paid to Carlton’s Matt Kennedy inside the Blues’ forward 50, denying the Dockers any chance for a late scrambled victory.
The umpires have been inconsistent in their application of the dissent rule, which was applied more often from 2022 and picked a crucial time to pay this one.
Fox Footy have been trying to figure out who made the comment that earned that extra free kick.
“It must have been a drive by,” Nathan Buckley said referring to when a player says something as he runs past the umpire.
It’s not clear which Docker made the comments which saw the umpire make his decision – it could be a couple of players but they removed any chance of a last-second winner for the Dockers.
For what it is worth, the kick that was marked by Cottrell may have brushed the arm and the hair of James Aish but it would have been very tough for the umpires to see it.
Blues utility Matt Cottrell kicked the match-winning goal but has praised his teammates for their support.
“I had a lot of teammates talking to me and putting some confidence in me so I felt confident I could knock it down,” Cottrell told Fox Footy.
The Blues forward praised his side for stepping up in clutch situations.
“We probably learned our lesson in 2022 where we had a lot of close games and weren’t on the right side of it. We have went to work on it and it’s good to see it is paying off now,” Cottrell told Fox Footy.
The umpire has plucked a free kick for dissent it appears gifting Carlton a shot for goal on a platter.
Fremantle players believed the previous kick that was marked by Matt Cottrell had been touched.
Alex Pearce, the Fremantle captain, ran to the umpire as they left the ground seeking an explanation.
After North Melbourne in round two last year when they thought they were denied a deliberate out of bounds call and now this, the Dockers won’t be too happy.
The Blues remain undefeated but this win has come right at the death.
The Blues are celebrating. Cottrell and Kennedy look overjoyed, so does Curnow.
That is a very special win for the Blues and a crushing loss for the Dockers.
There will be lots of questions about that final play. Who said what and how fierce was their dissent?
Brodie Kemp goes for a mark.Credit: Getty Images
Kennedy has kicked the goal.
There is 20 seconds left. Someone from Fremantle has cost their side dearly by abusing the umpire.
Bklues 73, Freo 63 with 20 secs to go.
Freo were so fuming about that decision is they have abused the umpire.
A free kick has been given to Kennedy.
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