Second baby, contract extension and five-goal haul wraps up big week for West Coast’s Jamie Cripps

Northampton’s Jamie Cripps has had a big week in football — and in life.

In the space of seven days, the 2018 premiership Eagle became a father for the second time, had a two-year extension with West Coast announced and then enjoyed one of his best individual games for the club, booting five goals in the upset of the 2023 season.

Cripps, 31, and his wife Liv welcomed their second son, Lance Owen, on August 14, a little brother for two-year-old Reif.

Then on Saturday, West Coast revealed Cripps was one of four players to re-sign with the club, along with veteran defender Jeremy McGovern, speedster Jack Petruccelle and young forward Jack Williams.

Cripps’ contract extension will see him stay at the club until the end of 2025.

He spent a big chunk of the 2023 season on the sidelines with a serious ankle injury, but returned in round 16.

Cripps starred in West Coast’s shock seven-point win against the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, kicking five goals and amassing 17 disposals and eight tackles.

The win saw West Coast lift themselves off the bottom of the ladder, where they have spent the majority of the season.

After the match, Cripps backed his embattled coach Adam Simpson.

“Mate, Simmo’s been copping it mate which is a bit unfair,” he told Fox Footy.

“It’s on us boys coming out each week and playing like we did today.

“Last week (101-point western derby thrashing) was very disappointing. We just wanted to come out and have a crack today pretty much for Simmo.

“He’s a great coach. He should be our coach going forward.”

In the change rooms, Cripps added he was proud of the team’s “good four-quarter effort” and to come away with an “amazing win”.

“The boys had a crack all date mate and it was just good to come away with a win,” he said.

Cripps admitted his week had been “fairly hectic” to say the least.

“So had baby Lance at the start of the week, in and out of hospital, mate, so haven’t had much sleep,” Cripps said, adding he didn’t expect to get much sleep either on the flight home from Melbourne.

North Melbourne now sit at the bottom of the AFL ladder, with West Coast’s third win of the season lifting them to 17th.

The wooden spoon and owner of the No. 1 draft pick will be decided in the last round, when West Coast play Adelaide at home and North Melbourne face Gold Coast in Tasmania.