Is Carlton captain Patrick Cripps on track to win second Brownlow?

Patrick Cripps. He's just about done it all.

Three-time All-Australian. Four-time John Nicholls medallist. Brownlow medal. Leigh Matthews Trophy. Captain. And, maybe, a premiership?

We might have to wait another 12 weeks to find that out but something is brewing for the week leading into the grand final.

The Monday before the last Saturday in September, the AFL puts on its night of nights as it showcases the Brownlow medal count.

Cripps has been there before. As a winner in 2022. As a third placing in 2019. A fifth placing in 2018. And 10th placing last year.

But 2024 is proving to be a special year for the Blues and their fans.

After a demolition against arch-rivals Richmond, Carlton firmly sits in second position and an inch closer to Sydney on top, who lost to Fremantle by one solitary point.

Michael Voss' men also sit six points clear of Fremantle and Essendon in third and fourth, meaning a home qualifying final is well and truly on the agenda.

But it has also been a special season for Cripps thus far.

According to Champion Data's AFL Player Ratings (the stats guru's most definitive number to define influence on matches), the Carlton skipper is having his second-highest rated season in his career (539.8), slightly behind that of 2019.

And when you break down this year's's performances, to the naked eye and statistically, Cripps' output has improved out of sight, combining both the contested game with the burst from stoppage as a deadly pairing.

The 29-year-old's latest effort came in the form of 40 disposals (80% effective) against the Tigers to go with his 14 clearances, nine inside 50s, eight score involvements, three goal assists and one goal, almost certain to lock up the three Brownlow votes.

The right-footer is also a barometer for the club, who's proven to be pivotal to the Blues' winning chances.

Once again, looking at Champion Data's AFL Player Ratings, Cripps' worst two games of 2024 came in losses against Sydney (4.9 points) and Collingwood (8.9).

When Carlton lost to Adelaide, the champ performed under his yearly average of 18 points per game, recording 14.4 in Round 5.

So there is clearly a direct correlation as to when the Blues captain is up and about and the likelihood of the club winning.

But who is contending with Cripps?

Collingwood's Nick Daicos is currently the favourite for 'Charlie' while Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli and Sydney trio Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Errol Gulden are in career-best form.

However, the Swans cohort are likely to steal votes off one another given their dominance on a week-to-week basis, while ruckman Brodie Grundy has shot back into All-Australian contention as Nick Blakey, Joel Amartey, Justin McInerney, Oliver Florent, Tom Papley and Will Hayward have all had their moments.

Daicos had a slow start but has been the catalyst for the club's resurgence.

This then leaves Bontempelli, who is arguably (maybe along with Scott Pendlebury) the unluckiest player of the modern era to have never won a Brownlow, albeit the Dogs star has plenty more fuel in the tank.

The left-footer has miraculously taken his game to another level in 2024 after narrowly missing out on the most prestigious individual award in both 2023 and 2021, falling second both times by three and two votes.

Utilising Champion Data's AFL Player Ratings, Bontempelli has currently topped all previous seasons, adding a lot more damage to his game forward of the centre.

The 'Bont' has kicked three goals on four occasions while a pair of majors across another four matches, and we know umpires love goal-kicking midfielders.

Thus making for an interesting Monday on the 23rd of September.