AFL Legend Jordan Lewis Advocates for Carlton to Consider Trading Patrick Cripps

Four-time premiership player Jordan Lewis has put forth the provocative idea that Carlton might contemplate trading their captain Patrick Cripps at the conclusion of the season.

As the Blues find themselves grappling with a challenging start, having only managed one win from four matches in the 2026 season, concerns are mounting. They’ve squandered three half-time leads and could very well be sitting at 0-4 if Richmond hadn’t fluffed their opportunities in the opening round.

With increasing pressure on coach Michael Voss, the club may be on the brink of a new direction, including a possible roster overhaul.

In this context of rejuvenating their squad, Lewis questions whether Carlton should follow in the footsteps of Melbourne and St Kilda’s strategies during the previous trade period, where they opted to offload seasoned veterans in exchange for draft picks, thereby creating more opportunities for younger talents.

The Demons notably traded Christian Petracca to Gold Coast for three first-round selections; while they didn’t achieve a strong return for Clayton Oliver, who went to GWS, his departure was part of a broader cultural reset.

St Kilda, on the other hand, traded their captain Jack Steele to Melbourne as part of an effort to introduce fresh faces into their midfield while alleviating salary cap concerns.

At 31, Cripps has had a lacklustre start to the season, averaging a mere 23.2 disposals per match – the lowest in his career.

Nevertheless, he is still a two-time Brownlow Medal winner and a long-serving captain for the Blues. Yet, the club’s struggles make Lewis ponder whether a change could be mutually beneficial for both Cripps and Carlton in their pursuit of long-awaited premiership glory.

“It raises the question…and we all know who the contenders are this season. People may criticise St Kilda for their decision to part with Steele, but I applaud their efforts to introduce new, dynamic players,” Lewis remarked during a segment on Fox Footy.

“You often observe other players who possess significant value in the game, and one can’t help but look at Essendon’s handling of Zach Merrett. They should’ve capitalised on that to reinvigorate the team.”

“When I consider Carlton and the upcoming youth, it’s definitely a balancing act, but what happens with a player like Patrick Cripps? Is he going to be part of your next premiership side?”

Richmond icon Jack Riewoldt weighed in on the discussion, affirming, “No, I don’t believe he will be part of their next premiership side.”

Lewis elaborated, “He’s a fantastic player with plenty to give, but from the perspective of the Carlton management, they’re tasked with making tough decisions. It’s crucial to rejuvenate the list to ensure competitiveness.”

“There’s a serious question about whether trading Cripps could benefit both parties, securing valuable draft picks in the process,” he continued.

“From a leadership angle, I comprehend the complexity, but five years down the line, he might remain a one-club player without any premiership success at Carlton – what, then, has been accomplished by the club?”

Lewis himself experienced a trade transition from Hawthorn to Melbourne later in his career, as the Hawks opted to move on from veterans like Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell to reset their team back in 2016.

Riewoldt reflected on that experience while underlining the magnitude of the decision confronting Carlton. “You’ve lived it. Alastair Clarkson moved on you, Sam Mitchell, and Luke Hodge… letting go of Patrick Cripps is a substantial decision. Your two-time Brownlow Medallist, your heart and soul who has lived and breathed blue.”

Lewis insisted such a move might be pivotal in ensuring the long-term prosperity of the club.

“What path do you envision? Right now, Carlton fans are critical of Michael Voss. While he may lack a game plan, it’s often the coach who bears the brunt of the blame. List management is crucial in determining player acquisitions, character, and competitiveness,” he stated.

“Ultimately, it’s up to Carlton’s management to make difficult decisions so that in three to four years, fans can witness a team that is truly competitive.”

Cripps, hailing from Western Australia, is under contract with Carlton until the end of 2027.

Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley, who is currently an assistant coach at Geelong, noted that the Blues face a critical decision regarding how much talent they are willing to part with for a chance to refresh their list.

“Melbourne took a calculated risk in trading those players, but it may have been a greater risk to retain them considering their underperformance 12 to 24 months prior,” Buckley pointed out.

“And perhaps Clarkson should have made earlier decisions regarding some of you Hawthorn players to rejuvenate the squad, in hindsight, as they struggled afterwards.”

“For a club like Carlton that is currently not performing, how drastic a measure do they need to take to access better talent? They must also contemplate the forthcoming Tasmanian expansion team and its long-term list-building strategy.”

The Blues will head into the 2026 draft with two first-round selections, having acquired one from Sydney in the Charlie Curnow trade.

They are also tied to father-son prospect Cody Walker, anticipated to be a top ten pick.

Given the Western Australian connection, Fremantle could be a logical destination for Cripps, especially as they are positioned for a flag, despite having a strong midfield. West Coast could definitely benefit from having a leader like Cripps in their ranks, though they are currently not in premiership contention.