After the Blues landed Cripps with pick 13 in last week's NAB AFL Draft, the club's national recruiting manager Shane Rogers excited Carlton fans by declaring that the Western Australian teenager possessed "a Diesel Williams-like brain", in that "he can see things out of the side of his eyes at the tightest angle".
Cripps concedes he knows precious little of the dual Brownlow medallist – after all, he was just six months old when Williams won the Norm Smith Medal to pilot the Blues to the 1995 premiership, and was only two when the champion centreman retired in 1997 – but he is keen to learn.
"From what I've heard he (was) a sensational player. For my game style to be compared [with] him is an honour," Cripps told reporters at Visy Park on Tuesday morning.
"I don't like to compare my game to really anyone – everyone's got different traits – but I'd love to watch a bit of his footage and try and learn things off it."
The Blues also unveiled their two other draftees, dashing full-back Cameron Giles and midfield scrapper Nick Holman, but most attention was focused on Cripps.
Rogers also revealed last week that the Blues' recruiting staff had been referring to Cripps as "The Extractor" all season.
Cripps accepts that such nicknames are beyond his control, but doesn’t shy away from it either.
"It's only a nickname but I suppose it came from my game style: I like to get in there and get it out. 'Extract' is a term you can use. It's good," he said.
He said his cousin, West Coast player Jamie Cripps, had been with him on draft night and had helped prepare him for his AFL journey.
Cripps has also been helped by a growth spurt that has seen him shoot up about 15cm in the past two years. He is now an imposing 188cm and 88kgs – an advantage of about 12cm and 2kgs on Williams in his heyday.
Asked whether he could continue to grow into the key forward the Blues have been craving, Cripps joked: "Who knows? I could even be a ruckman."
Giles, a South Australian who was selected at No. 39, has been compared to reigning Norm Smith medallist Brian Lake for his contested marking, ability to intercept and create attack from defence.
"He's a pretty good player to emulate," Giles said of Lake.
"Obviously his spoiling pressure and he takes a lot of risks, so I try and take a lot out of his game. To be half the player he is, I'd be pretty happy with that."
Giles has played just one season in defence, having previously played as a forward/ruckman. The Blues believe he could develop into a swingman in the vein of new teammate Lachie Henderson.
Giles says he will "hang off" Henderson and Michael Jamison for guidance.
Left-footer Holman, the No. 51 pick from the Murray Bushrangers, prides himself on a ferocious attack on the contest and is a particularly strong tackler. He also speaks in a direct manner.
"I just love the hard ball … that's what coaches here like, and that's what I want to bring to the club," he said.
Twitter: @AFL_BenCollins
