Carlton Chief Executive Steven Trigg hasย moved to reassure Carlton fans, statingย Kane Cornes' comments that Patrick Cripps could be leaving the Bluesย are "just a furphy."
In an interview on SEN Hungry for Sport on Thursday morning, Trigg urged Carlton fans not to worry about Cripps' commitment to the Blues.
โThe first thing is I was looking out the window this morning at Patrick as he returns to full training, and heโs motoring really well. We are very confident he plays in round one,โ he said.
โAs for all the other (rumours), to be honest itโs just a furphy.
โHe is genuinely welded to Carlton and life in Melbourne ... so Iโm not sure where Kane's dragged that one from, but weโre aiming to keep Patrick, donโt worry.โ
Cripps' manager Matt Bain also shut down the rumours, telling AFL.com.auย they are baseless.
"Thereโs absolutely no truth in the rumour whatsoever," Bain said.
"Paddy has ambitions to be captain of the Carlton Football Club one day."
"He's singed on until 2019."
This comes after Kane Cornes' explosive commentsย on SportsdaySA yesterday.
โThe bidding war around Nat Fyfe ... They are three Melbourne clubs: St Kilda, Hawthorn and Carlton,โ Cornes said.
โHe potentially could stay โฆ theyโre trying to keep him, but theyโre also coming up with a plan B. They donโt have the contract of Matthew Pavlich, Aaron Sandilands gets paid a lot of money, itโs probably his last year, if they lose Nat Fyfe they have a bucketload of cash to spend.
โMitch McGovern will feature in that contract debate, theyโll try and get him, but one other player, and he plays for Carlton, is a very good chance of heading home, that is Patrick Cripps of the Carlton footy club, their next captain-in-waiting at Carlton, potentially wants to move home.โ
The possibility of a trade could prove difficult for Fremantle as Fyfe is a restricted free agent at the end of this season. Cripps on the other hand is tied to Carlton until 2019.
