Patrick Cripps – Kicking Health Goals

By Jane Rocca

After years of focussing on his health, wellbeing and recovery as a professional athlete, Carlton AFL captain and Brownlow Medallist Patrick Cripps has turned his professional focus into a new health company, Alivia Wellness.

For Cripps, it’s all about getting the best out of your day when it comes to energy and performance — and the arrival of hydrogen therapy is just the beginning of what’s to come. Alivia Wellness isn’t just for athletes; it’s aimed at those seeking a wellness journey and improving health outcomes regardless of age.

Alongside his co-founder, former army captain Andrew Macdonald, the pair worked with acclaimed nutritionist Derek Johnson to develop hydrogen products that are Human and Supplement Testing Australia (HASTA) certified — meaning they have been tested for more than 200 WADA-prohibited substances and are safe to use.

It was an off-season trip that inspired Cripps to look into wellness as a career segue. He was in Portland, Oregon, with two best friends visiting Nike’s head offices in 2022 when the penny dropped. Conversations there led to discussions around psychological wellbeing and recovery for people of all ages.

“I always wanted something to fall back on when the footy career ends, which is why I always had a focus on education as well as footy,” he explains. “I’m now doing my postgraduate in psychology. I don’t necessarily want to be a psychologist, but I like the credibility of saying I have a psychology background,” he says. He already has a degree in business and finance.

It was while listening to his favourite podcast, Finding Mastery by Dr Michael Gervais, that Cripps was initially inspired to think about life in the wellness world. He met the host, Gervais, in LA, who got the wheels in motion for the next pivotal step towards setting up Aussie-made Alivia Wellness.

“Michael and I got chatting about my journey and career and I realised I had never really dived into the detail of nutrition, diet and supplements — and it was through him I connected with my business partner, Derek Johnson,” says Cripps. “We’ve been working with Derek for four years and I have learnt so much from him. It got me thinking: how can I help other people? When you meet like-minded people, we thought: why not give this a crack?”

They’ve kicked off the range with hydrogen bath tablets which contain magnesium, with sleep gummies on the way in 2026. It’s all about using the techniques and habits of professional sportspeople to support everyday Aussies.

“It’s not just an athlete’s brand,” says Cripps. “Wellness is for everyone. At the end of the day, people want to feel good and live as long as they can. Doing the right thing at least 80 to 90% of the time leads to great life habits,” he says.

The married father of one says starting his day thinking about energy management sets him up for better outcomes, as does a routine ritual of breathwork and meditation. “Being busy takes a lot of energy, but I am really interested in how you can maintain that and recover well,” he says. “Sleeping and eating well is important. I’m really detailed with my nutrition, and then I make sure I have time just to put everything down and spend some time with the family as well.”