Different journeys for first Blues co-captainsQuote:
PATRICK Cripps and Sam Docherty have travelled different journeys to become the first pair of co-captains in Carlton's 154-year history.
In their own words, they are different people, with different personalities, who will bring different leadership elements to the role of Blues skipper from 2019 and beyond.
They do have a few things in common, however.
Having arrived at the club within a month of each other – Docherty via a trade from Brisbane in October 2013 and Cripps via the NAB AFL Draft that November – they have willed themselves through five of the toughest seasons in the club's history.
Throughout that difficult spell, the pair have clearly elevated themselves as the standouts within a promising bunch of young talent that has been to the well and is now ready to begin the long and arduous climb up the AFL ranks.
It was therefore no surprise that when the Carlton hierarchy met to discuss who would replace outgoing skipper Marc Murphy in the role of club captain, a joint-partnership between Cripps and Docherty was the conclusion they reached.
But while they might share a unique relationship with one another, both have a clear vision for what they want to achieve on and off the field at Ikon Park. And it starts with success.
"We both came to the club in the same year," Docherty told AFL.com.au.
"It was a pretty tough time and we've had to go through that together. In many ways, we've grown up together and we've had to lean on each other, being two of the younger guys who are actually left at the club from that time.
"We've gone through a range of emotions during that time together and I think that's brought our bond really close.
"We just trust each other and what we're trying to do at this footy club is completely aligned. I think that's a strong stance to start on."
On the field, Cripps is the bash and crash contested beast who has become one of the League's best inside ball winners over the last 12 months. Docherty, on the other hand, is the graceful half-back who sets up Carlton's forays forward methodically out of defence.
But while they're vastly different footballers, they're also quite dissimilar people.
While they're close mates off the park, neither are alike. But speak to those in the know at Ikon Park and that can only be a positive, with the Blues certain each will bring their own unique personality traits to the role of club captain throughout the next few years.
"It's hard to explain our different personalities," Cripps told AFL.com.au.
"We are different in ways, but we're also similar in a lot of other ways. One way that we are similar is that we're both really driven to get the best out of ourselves and we're driven by team success.
"I know working alongside 'Doc' that we're going to be relentless in what we expect from the guys. But, in saying that, the culture that we've already built around the club, it's a good group of lads who are really driven to work hard.