Patrick Cripps during pre-season training in February. Picture: AFL Getty Images

CARLTON superstar Patrick Cripps is eager to reap the rewards of a trimmed-down physique when footy recommences later this month, having shed the kilos over the summer in the hope of improving his running ability.

Cripps and the club's high-performance boss Andrew Russell devised a specialised plan for the Blues co-captain last November in an attempt to improve his burst from stoppage, with the three-time best and fairest winner keen to see if it helps his outside game.

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Having played at 96kgs last year, the tough inside ball-winner dropped around 2-3kgs throughout pre-season and retained his smaller frame during the game's recent shutdown period.

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"What I am now was a goal over the pre-season," Cripps said on Monday morning.

"I haven't dropped weight since round one, it's probably been since last November-onwards that I've tried to make a conscious effort to change a few things up at training."

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Cripps ranked top-three in the competition for both clearances and contested possessions last year, finishing joint-third in the Brownlow Medal count after another stellar individual campaign.

However, dropping weight was a way in which the talented 25-year-old thought he could improve other facets of his game like his explosion from the contest and his outside running power.

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"You always try and find little ways to get better," Cripps said.

"I'm always going to be strong as a taller midfielder, so it's just finding little ways to get marginal improvement.

"Who knows? I'll have to let my footy be the judge of that. But I feel good, I definitely feel better being a bit lighter and I'm covering the ground a fair bit better."

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Cripps was among the best players on the ground throughout Carlton's round one loss to Richmond, amassing 31 disposals and 10 clearances.