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Bryce Gibbs: Stud or spud?

6th April, 2016
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Bryce Gibbs divides the public, but can we all agree he's a bloody good footy player? (AAP Image/Joe Castro)
Roar Guru
6th April, 2016
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1130 Reads

Many players within the AFL are unfairly judged and often criticism can be harsh in the world of footy.

Bryce Gibbs is an interesting case study as his reputation appears somewhat mixed from not only Carlton supporters but opposition and pundits alike.

Is he a star, a good player, an average player or a dud? When it is all said and done will Gibbs be considered a success story at Carlton?

Like many before him, Gibbs had immediate pressure on him by virtue of the fact he was drafted with the number one pick. Gibbs certainly didn’t join Carlton at the proudest moment in the club’s history.

Drafted at the end of 2006 the Blues were at their lowest ebb coming off a wooden spoon finish in 2006. Following salary cap breaches earlier in the decade many felt Carlton could be looking at an extended period at the foot of the table.

It would take until 2009 for Carlton to qualify for finals. Carlton finished outside top eight
in 2014 and missed the finals for the second consecutive year last year finishing last. This would spell the end of coach Mick Malthouse who was sacked before season’s end.

During some of the tougher times some media pundits thought if Carlton were looking to overhaul the squad then someone like Gibbs might fetch the club a quality draft pick if traded. Gibbs however remained committed to Carlton.

This loyalty cannot be dismissed, it would have been very easy at different times to leave a struggling club.

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New coach Brendan Bolton will be looking for the experienced players in the Carlton squad to stand up and provide leadership during the rebuilding process. Bryce Gibbs is one such player, at 27 years of age and having now played 189 games, who fits the bill.

The first two games of the season have seen Gibbs play an important role picking up 30 and 25 disposals with assured skills on display. The value Gibbs provides as a utility that can play all over the field cannot be underestimated.

Previously Gibbs has been accused of getting easy ball across half back but there is a time and place when a team will want the ball in the hands of those who make good decisions and use the ball well such as Bryce Gibbs.

The career statistics for Gibbs certainly seem good on paper. Entering his 10th season Gibbs has an average of 22.2 disposals per game. Gibbs has also been a very durable player during this period, playing over 20 games in eight out of nine seasons.

He is a player who gets the ball, has good skills and not missed many games of football. Every player is different and many don’t play with a particularly high level of aggression. So is Gibbs harshly judged?

It seems a lot of criticism was born after an incident when Gibbs apparently ‘squibbed’ a contest against St Kilda. But he is certainly not the first nor will he be the last to be involved in a football contest at less than full throttle.

It is difficult to measure toughness, but averaging just under four tackles a game would Gibbs has no issue with the hard stuff when required.

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Gibbs is in line to play his 200th game this season. He already has a best and fairest award to his name along with another two top-three finishes.

Gibbs will become a life member of Carlton and still has three years left on his contract.

Sounds like a successful AFL career has been achieved, despite some of the knockers.

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