Jamie Cripps slotted in to the same role that was filled so admirably by Mark LeCras before him: a deliverer of quality touch passes inside 50, and a converter of half-chances from long set shots with his reliable finishing skills. Every club needs a good one of these, though his skills have been somewhat wasted in recent years as the Eagles bottomed out. As they have started to recover they have made much better use of Cripps' creamy contributions, bringing him back into the frame as a spot start in draft leagues. Perhaps today against North is one such time.
Jamie Cripps slotted in to the same role that was filled so admirably by Mark LeCras before him: a deliverer of quality touch passes inside 50, and a converter of half-chances from long set shots with his reliable finishing skills. Every club needs a good one of these, though his skills have been somewhat wasted in recent years as the Eagles bottomed out. As they have started to recover they have made much better use of Cripps' creamy contributions, bringing him back into the frame as a spot start in draft leagues. Perhaps today against North is one such time.
Jamie Cripps is a barometer for the West Coast Eagles, a role he has taken over from Mark Lecras. Look at his stat sheet and you can usually tell how the game is going, as he can pile on the stats when the Eagles are dominating but does tend to go missing like most half forward flankers do when things are tight. This evening presents an interesting opportunity as West Coast host the top two Bulldogs, and if you are eyeing off Cripps as a daily fantasy play you are probably relying on the Dog mids to have a poor day, as they often do away.
Don't cut off Jamie's limb!
A preseason foot problem and then a groin injury in round 17 meant that Jamie Cripps never got up to full match fitness last season, but he managed to hit the 30-goal mark. His fantasy scores suffered with two less disposals and marks, underlining a lack of spread compared to his stellar 2018 campaign. Cripps had been set up to move up the ground to a HFF as a replacement for Mark LeCras, a role in which mobility is paramount. A full preparation going into 2020 should see him recover at least 15 points in bounce back scoring, meaning he should be drafted in middle rounds at worst with some upside beyond that.
Jamie Cripps has been the forgotten man in the West Coast forward line this season, with a lot of hype around the young cadre of indigenous crumbers who gorged themselves on live kills in a string of games. His role as a half forward flanker seems to be less important than it used to be in the Eagles set up, with long bombs to talls getting decent rewards as opposed to the previous regime with Mark LeCras offering more link play around the flanks. Cripps' health hasn't been great this season either, and a recent groin injury compounds the problem for his owners.
Jamie Cripps was one of the big success stories of last year's flag run by West Coast, riding the good form of the team and stepping into the role of primary small forward as Mark LeCras wandered into the twilight. After a delayed start to season 2019 following toe surgery, he showed that he will be just as important to the team with a big bag on his return. The Eagles midfield is still elite, no matter what the rankings tell you, and his role should be very lucrative for fantasy usage in the short and medium terms.
Cripps inherits piste
It was one of the less heralded aspects of West Coast's premiership, that Jamie Cripps suddenly turned into Alan Didak. It took until round 22 for him to break a run of 101 games without passing 20 disposals, but it was in the middle of a post-bye run where he lifted his fantasy average by 17 points to just on 90, including five tons from his last six with more than two goals per game from his last ten. It corresponded to a gradual drop off from the now-retired Mark LeCras, and the conclusion can be inferred that Cripps now fills what was a lucrative role for the Frenchman at his peak. If you believe the flag wasn't just a one-hit wonder for the Eagles, he should reward a middle-round pick with significant upside on his trailing average, with particular emphasis on enjoying himself during home routs.
Jipps gives the gyps
The only thing that changed in Jamie Cripps' game in the last few years is that he has started averaging the same against finalists as he does versus the minnows, casting aside a flat track bully reputation. It is 50 games since he went over the 20 disposal mark. This actually makes Cripps harder to pick, as you can't start or sit him based on opponents any more. He is a boat plotting a steady course on a tide created by the rest of the team, so when they suck he sucks, and vice versa in wins. This makes him nearly undraftable.
