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Angry Carlton captain Patrick Cripps has taken aim at the media over "incorrect" reports following the Blues' latest disappointing defeat.
Carlton captain Patrick Cripps has blasted critics questioning his commitment to the Blues as the beleaguered club attempt to salvage their troubled AFL season.
A report on Nine's Footy Classified claimed Cripps and popular defender Sam Docherty stayed away from the team hotel ahead of the Blues' loss to Sydney at the SCG on Friday.
But the reigning Brownlow medallist said he stayed on in Sydney on Saturday night with his wife Monique, arriving back in Melbourne 24 hours after the rest of the playing group.
"I can cop criticism about form and losing but when it's factually incorrect and questions my character and commitment to the team it p***es me off," Cripps wrote on Instagram, with his post receiving thousands of likes and comments in only a few hours on Tuesday.
"This is the accountability as players that we would love to see with certain people in the media.
"For clarity for everyone, I stayed with the team the entire time they were in Sydney and joined my wife and family members on the Sat night as we had the weekend off.
"We aren't where we want to be as a team right now, but never question my commitment to this team or club."
Later on Tuesday, Cripps received an apology for the report, with the Nine Network conceding it was wrong.
"On Monday night it was reported on Footy Classified that Patrick Cripps and Sam Docherty stayed at a hotel separate to the one used by the rest of the team while in Sydney on Friday night. This was wrong," a statement from the organisation read.
"We have spoken with Patrick and apologised."
Carlton's once-promising campaign has plummeted after losing six of their past seven games, their only win during that period coming against historically poor last-placed West Coast.
On Monday, the club confirmed board member Craig Mathieson had quit with immediate effect.
His resignation followed a reported heated argument with Carlton president Luke Sayers in the Blues' change rooms after the defeat to the Swans.
It doesn't get any easier for Carlton, starting with Friday night's match against premiership contenders Melbourne, who are coming off two-straight losses.
The Blues then clash with in-form Essendon, followed by a danger home game against Gold Coast.
Mathieson's uncle Bruce is a long-time Carlton powerbroker, who a fortnight ago fiercely criticised the club's administration.
Former AFL Commission chair Mike Fitzpatrick, also an ex-Blues champion, failed to definitively rule out challenging for the board when asked at a Carlton function on Monday night about his ambitions.
Carlton, who have won the equal-most premierships in VFL/AFL history, have failed to play finals since 2013.
The Blues sat inside the top-eight for all the 2022 season before spectacularly tumbling on the last day of the final round courtesy of a heartbreaking loss against bitter rivals Collingwood.
