Carlton Blues star Patrick Cripps slams claim he ditched his team to stay at posh Sydney hotel

Fired Carlton captain Patrick Cripps has angrily denied reports that he stayed in a separate hotel for teammates ahead of the Blues’ loss to Sydney last Friday night.

The Blues are getting more attention after a disappointing first half of the AFL season, finishing 13th on the ladder with just four wins.

That included a 26-point loss in Round 11 to the struggling Sydney Swans, who have turned the blowtorch firmly on the battling Blues.

Speaking on Channel Nine’s Footy Classified this week, veteran journalist Caroline Wilson called out Cripps and teammate Sam Docherty and said they were staying in a separate hotel from teammates, which was not good for the team’s unity and morale.

“First of all, when they had a short break after the West Coast game, Patrick Cripps was given leave to have an extra day at home, he’s obviously a Perth boy,” Wilson said of Cripps.

“I don’t think many eyebrows were raised about that, but internally a few people did.

“Before the Sydney game, I think Sam Docherty and Patrick Cripps did not stay at the team hotel, but at a boutique hotel in Paddington.

‘Is that unusual? It just seems in times like this that you have to refuel, it seemed a bit strange to me that they weren’t all together after the game.’

Cripps spent time with his wife and relatives in Sydney after the match during his time off from the club

Caroline Wilson made the accusation on Footy Classified, questioning whether it was good for team unity and morale

Cripps responded on his Instagram account, firing back at Wilson that the information was incorrect and that he wasn’t staying at a separate hotel until after the Swans game.

“I can take criticism about form and losses, but when it’s factually incorrect and questions my character and commitment to the team, it pisses me off. This is the responsibility as players that we would like to see given to certain people in the media,” he said.

“To be clear to everyone, I stayed with the team the entire time they were in Sydney and joined my wife and relatives on the Saturday night as we had the weekend off.

“We’re not where we want to be as a team right now, but never question my commitment to this team or this club.

“I can’t wait for Friday night.”

Cripps’ post received support from teammate Trent Cotchin who replied with applause emojis, Rebecca Judd – wife of club champion Chris Judd – who replied with a fist emoji, Bombers star Zach Merrett and Australian Boomers basketball star Nathan Sobey who replied with fire emojis .

Former bachelor Sam Wood also launched a passionate defense of Cripps, calling for Wilson to be held accountable.

“Good for you posting this and standing up for yourself,” he wrote.

“Imagine if certain media people had to live by the standards and control that you do. They would have been scrapped, scrapped and forgotten about decades ago.”

The post Patrick Cripps posted on Instagram that received support from an Olympic bronze winner and former bachelor Sam Wood

A host of past and current AFL players liked the post, including Bryce Gibbs, Adam Treloar, Marcus Bontempelli, Bradley Hill, Jack Steele and Tom Mitchell.

It comes as Carlton’s once promising campaign plummets further after losing six of their last seven games, with their only win in that period coming against the historically poor last-placed West Coast.

On Monday, the club confirmed that board member Craig Mathieson has stepped down with immediate effect.

Unconfirmed reports suggested his resignation followed an altercation with Carlton president Luke Sayers in the Blues dressing rooms after the defeat to the Swans.

Carlton has another tough period ahead, starting with Friday night’s game against Melbourne losing two in a row.

The Blues then clash with form rivals Essendon followed by a dangerous home game against Gold Coast.

Mathieson’s uncle Bruce has been a Carlton power broker for a long time and two weeks ago he was fiercely critical of the club administration.