Carlton rule out trading Patrick Cripps amid West Australian move speculation
Carlton chief executive Graham Wright has ruled out trading captain Patrick Cripps at the end of the season.
Speculation surrounding the footy of the dual Brownlow Medallist arose this year, given the club's 1-8 start and the sacking of coach Michael Voss.
The feeling was if Cripps wished to finish his career back home in Perth, the club should grant him that wish.
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Patrick Cripps of the Blues celebrates with fans. via Getty Images
The star midfielder is yet to fully close the door on such a move, but is contracted to Carlton until the end of 2027.
When asked if the Blues would, hypothetically, grant him that option to return home, if he wished to do so, Wright was firm.
"Not really (open to that conversation)," Wright told SEN.
"Patrick is our captain, he's got a year to go on his contract. We wouldn't like to see him anywhere other than the Blues."
The skipper was at his best in the club's recent wins over Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs, helping lift the mood at Princes Park after a horror start to the year.
Carlton have salary cap space to burn and attack the upcoming trade and free agency period, given the departures of Charlie Curnow, Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni last year, coupled with the end of Zac Williams' six-year $6m contract.
Patrick Cripps with fans after the recent win over the Power. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Despite that, Wright remained coy on whether the Blues would utilise that space to their fullest this year.
"We do (have space in our salary cap)," Wright said.
"But is it the right time and are the right free agents there? They're things we're asking ourselves now.
"I don't think we're in the Zak Butters conversation. That seems to be heading in one direction, but there are some other guys out there that might not be restricted free agents or high-end free agents we could look at as well.
"But we're certainly not needing to move on (Cripps) to free up (salary cap space)."
Carlton find themselves in a holding pattern under interim coach Josh Fraser until the end of the 2026 season.
West Coast premiership coach Adam Simpson is the key external figure alongside Wright, president Rob Priestley and head of football Chris Davies on the panel to appoint their next coach.
