CARLTON defender Sam Docherty says skipper Patrick Cripps is taking his leadership to another level as he attempts to drive the Blues back into the finals.

Cripps had 42 disposals, 20 contested possessions and 13 clearances on Saturday to haul Carlton to a 10-point win over GWS and a 2-1-0 start to the season.

But last year's Brownlow medallist also attracted attention with an impassioned speech to his teammates when they trailed the Giants by three points at quarter-time.

"He was just saying that we needed to stay connected as a group and understand that we weren't playing the footy we wanted to in the first quarter, and there's parts of our game we really wanted to tidy up but it was important that we stayed connected and didn't go in our shell," Docherty told reporters on Monday.

"So he was just reinforcing that message to play our way and continue to do that.

"We knew that our best footy would get the job done so we had to get back to doing that."

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Docherty knows Cripps' leadership better than anyone.

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He was co-captain alongside the three-time All-Australian from 2019 to 2021, before stepping down ahead of last season to focus on his recovery from testicular cancer.

Sam Docherty and Patrick Cripps lead Carlton out against Essendon in R7, 2021. Picture: AFL Photos

"He's an obsessive character and he's definitely obsessed about leadership," Docherty said ahead of Carlton's Good Friday clash with North Melbourne.

"He could spit you off every sort of leadership lesson that's in any book anywhere, and that thirst for leadership is definitely starting to show.

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"He's just more confident in what he's doing. He's very sure on the type of leader he is and what he brings to the table, and he's very confident in his ability to do that.

"He's growing every day. Much like any other AFL player is growing in their game, he grows (in) his leadership.

"He's been great. He's been on this journey of building this club back to where we all wanted it for a long time and he's been a massive part in the culture that we have at this footy club."