Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020
Jamie Cripps retirement has closed a proud 16-season Australian Football League career, with the West Coast Eagles premiership forward ready to return to his country roots after a knee injury ended his playing days.
Cripps finished with 323 goals from 277 AFL games and will be remembered as an important part of West Coast’s 2018 premiership side. The 34-year-old Northampton product confirmed he is planning a move away from Perth and back toward regional Western Australia.
For more AFL club news, read Magpies Lock in Two-Year Extension with Venue Partner The Sporting Globe, while official fixtures and player information are available through the Australian Football League website.
Cripps Looks Toward Geraldton
“We’re building a house up in Geraldton at the moment so we’re looking to move up there soon,” he told West Coast’s Coast to Coast podcast.
“I’m hoping to get in with an agricultural company working with Nutrian Ag, who I’ve been doing ambassador stuff for the last couple of years, seeing farmers and a bit of Country Week Footy stuff.
“It’s been on my mind for the last four to five years. I tossed it up to the missus, and she didn’t shut it down straight away, and she’s become great friends with everyone up from that way, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Injury Makes The Call Clear
Cripps said the knee injury he suffered in the West Australian Football League made his decision easier, even if saying goodbye was still painful.
“I was really dreading it; all I could think about was doing it. When Travis King called me for the press release, I nearly started crying on the phone,” he said.
“Talked it through with the missus and the kids; the kids wanted me to go one more because they wanted to run out again.
“But I was dreading coming into talking with teammates and staff; that was nearly the hardest thing I had to do.”
A Career With Full-Circle Meaning
Cripps began his AFL journey at St Kilda Football Club shortly after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, before building his best football at West Coast.
“The week before I got drafted to the Saints I got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, so in the leading up to the draft I was in hospital, and sort of had to keep it quiet from the club,” he said.
He also reflected warmly on playing alongside fellow Northampton product Josh Kennedy.
“I was stoked to play a lot of games with him; it was pretty special. He’s a club and AFL great, a person I looked up to from Northampton from a distance and then to play in the forward line with him was awesome,” he said.
