West Coast Eagles veteran Jamie Cripps has been slammed for costing his team dearly in the dying stages on a nailbiting contest.
The Eagles had the momentum throughout the fourth quarter but ultimately fell six points short as Essendon secured the 11.11 (77) to 11.5 (71) win.
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But it could have been a different outcome if not for Cripps’ inexcusable mistake midway through the final term.
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With under 10 minutes left to play and the Eagles behind by 10 points, the ball sailed inside their forward 50 where Jake Waterman hauled in a contested mark.
After helping Waterman get back to his feet, Cripps is seen engaging with several Bombers players before he shoves Nic Martin to the turf.
The moment of madness from the 32-year-old sees the umpire pay a free kick to the Bombers, robbing Waterman a shot on goal.
“That’s just dumb,” Will Schofield said on Fox Footy’s coverage.
“That’s completely dumb by Jamie Cripps. He’s been in this league a long time.
“Nic Martin sucked him in there. You’ve got a forward having a shot at goal… what are you doing?”
Former Port Adelaide premiership star Kane Cornes took aim at Cripps on Sunday morning as he hauled the Eagles veteran over the coals.
“This is a pivotal moment. What is Cripps doing off the ball? Even Waterman says ‘don’t give it away’ and then he is shattered,” Cornes said on the Sunday Footy Show.
“What a big moment that is. You can see the devastation there.
“When you lose it by such a close margin, you go back to an experienced player among a young group, unforgivable.”
Nathan Brown asks what the response from Eagles coach Adam Simpson should be in relation to Cripps’ costly mistake.
“You’d be filthy. “I would hope they’ve (the playing group) got to the point where they say we cannot accept that from a senior player at that moment to do that.”
Dons hold on against resilient Eagles | 00:53
Fans watching on were equally as incensed with the error from Cripps that could have seen the Eagles close to within four points.
One user wrote: “Jamie Cripps with an absolute hall of fame level brain fade. “That is as stupid as you’ll ever see.”
A second added: “Should be a one kick game. Inexcusable to give away that reversal.”
A third wrote: “What Jamie Cripps did there was inexcusable – that is dumb for such a highly experienced player.”
A fourth wrote: “Jamie Cripps. May have cost the Eagles any chance of an upset win. “Beyond stupid.”
The loss drops the Eagles to 2-6 on the season with the club sitting 15th on the ladder, ahead of Richmond, Hawthorn and North Melbourne.
