You won’t see Jamie Cripps’ image on billboards dotted around the city. You will rarely see or hear of him in the media. That’s not him.
He prefers internal acknowledgement to being placed on a public pedestal. Yet he deserves broad adulation.
Not just because of what he has done in football. But how he has done it.
Diagnosed in his teens with type-1 diabetes, he will play his 150th game for the West Coast Eagles on Saturday night. Spend a moment to digest that fact.
Type 1 diabetes is a disease where the pancreas produces little or no insulin. He must carefully monitor his blood sugar levels, be disciplined with both his diet and life-style.
Throw in another 16 games with St Kilda and his capacity to excel at elite level sport is remarkable.
And not just in any sport.
Australian football measures up against all others for its physical demands, aerobically, in strength, physicality and mental demands.
That the key planks in Cripps’ attributes are both endurance and durability speak even more highly for him as he prepares to qualify for life membership of the West Coast Eagles when he steps out against Brisbane at the Gabba.
In an era where the game is broken down in finite statistical detail, the numbers the public sees never define the output of the indefatigable Cripps.
They will get access to his pressure acts, his goal assists, his one percenters and quite obviously his scoreboard impact.
But he does so much more and his work rate is consistent, whether he kicks four goals or none.
As a high half-forward, among the most exhausting roles in the game, he will run up to 14-15 kilometres a game.
And he will be at peak speed more often than everyone else on the ground. That is why he holds such deep respect within the football club.
Not just that. He’s also a cheeky, humble and giving.
Off-field he is committed to showing children with type 1 diabetes that it should not be an impediment to them achieving their aspirations.
This quiet achiever is an outstanding role model.
And that is why his achievement on Saturday night deserves something special.
Unfortunately, because of the COVID-19 restrictions, his family will not be able to attend the match.
And 200-gamer Andrew Gaff is in a similar position.
But they both understand the magnitude of the support they have received on the home from front.
For Cripps it will remain a milestone in which he will take pride. If in his own unassuming manner.
“For me, personally it’s massive,” he said in break from training within the grounds of the Royal Pines Resort hub.
“It’s not easy playing 150 games of AFL footy so it means a lot to me. I’m stoked to do it at a great club like the West Coast Eagles
“I’m a bit disappointed at how it has all worked out. My parents and missus are still in Perth so they’re sending me their love via text and phone calls, so it feels like they’re all here.
“I’m not too sure,” he says by way of explanation on his durability, averaging around 20 games a season after being recruited back to WA from St Kilda in 2013. “Just lucky, I suppose. I like surfing, getting in the water, that might help. In the last few years I’ve had a few issues but all in all I’m pretty happy how the body has held up. Recovery, keeping the mind clear, it (surfing) helps me out.
“It’s awesome. You can stay out for a couple of hours and all you think about is surfing and catching a wave. It helps me clear my mind of footy. Obviously I didn’t play a very good one on the weekend, neither did the team, so it’s good to clear your mind and re-focus for the week.”
The Cripps connection to West Coast goes back to inaugural star Chris Mainwaring, another life member, from the highly productive football factory in the mid-west. Mainwaring was raised in Geraldton, played 201 games and like Cripps, built his career around hard work.
He was a cousin of Cripps, played in two premierships, won the emerging talent award in 1987 and was three-times runner-up in the Club Champion Award.
Cripps hails from Northampton, about 50km north of Geraldton. The same place that teammate Josh Kennedy learned his craft and also a town that began its link to the Eagles in year one, with Andrew Lockyer a part of the first list of 35 players too.
To say that Northampton punches above its weight is seriously under-stating its capacity to produce outstanding players at elite level.
Daniel Chick (Hawthorn and West Coast), Paul Hasleby (Fremantle) and Liam Anthony (North Melbourne) all played with distinction while Harry Taylor has carved out a wonderful career at Geelong and Patrick Cripps (Jamie’s cousin) is now captain at Carlton.
“There’s something in the water up there,” Jamie says.
“They just love their footy in Northampton, so from a young age just getting out there and having a kick around was a great start. It’s good I can join the club with JK and qualify for life membership.
“It was a tough decision for me to come home. I loved the boys at St Kilda, they are a good club, but the Melbourne lifestyle wasn’t for me.
“I was lucky enough that West Coast were keen to get me to the club, so it all worked out for me in the end. I didn’t want to go back into the draft and my trade was the last to be done, so that was a bit nerve-wracking.”
On his illness, Cripps says the secret was establishing what worked for him.
“It is hard work,” says the genuine blue-collar forward who epitomises that value on the field.
“Early days it was a lot tougher trying to find a routine that worked me each week. It has been awesome to have the club doctors here to help me out whenever I need it.
“Sticking to a good routine, I find that is best for me. But you always have your ups and downs and it is difficult to manage.
“I was a bit nervous, once I was first diagnosed, as to whether I could play at the highest level.”
Cripps has clearly overcome some major hurdles to do what he has; it all adds up to the persona of a player who is admired and respected by his teammates and that – along with the major achievement of Gaff – will provide an additional incentive to win against the Lions.
