Bryce Gibbs joins Victor Harbor for 2024 Great Southern Football League season

A local SA footy club has signed its second big name in as many weeks, with an ex-AFL star joining former teammates at the country outfit.

A former AFL star has joined teammates at a local SA footy club ahead of next season after retiring from SANFL League level.

Former Carlton and Adelaide midfielder Bryce Gibbs has joined Victor Harbor for the 2024 Great Southern Football League season, joining up with former South Adelaide teammates Sam Overall and Ben Heaslip at the country club.

The move comes just days after Heaslip joined and marks the biggest signing in local SA footy so far this pre-season.

Gibbs, a former Glenelg prospect who was a number one draft pick in 2006, tallied 231 games for Carlton in 10 years with the club and also won a Best and Fairest with the Blues in 2014.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 13: Bryce Gibbs is chaired off from his final AFL game by former Caelton teammates Kade Simpson and Marc Murphy. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

He then made the move back to South Australia in 2018 and played 37 games for the Crows.

Gibbs also played 77 SANFL games with South Adelaide after retiring from the AFL level, sharing a Magarey Medal with Woodville-West Torrens star James Tsitas in 2021, before making the decision to retire earlier this year.

“My time at South Adelaide has been extremely enjoyable,” Gibbs told Panthers fans upon retiring.

“Obviously coming out of the AFL system I thought I had a couple of good years left in me.

Gibbs posing after winning the Magarey Medal in 2021. Picture: Tom Huntley

“Everybody (at South Adelaide) was very welcoming and I felt like I’d been here for many years.

“Everyone across the club from the board, players, football department, staff, coaches, sponsors, supporters and the Panthers community, have been very welcoming and shown me a lot of support.”

Victor Harbor football director Steve Fairhurst said the club had approached pre-season with the goal of improving the list.

“The club has had a heavy focus on building our playing group around our former juniors and players that have a connection with the club,” he said.

“The Gibbs family has a strong connection with Victor Harbor and Bryce also has friendships within the playing group.

Bryce Gibbs with his dad Ross Gibbs and children Charlie and Madison before his final SANFL game. Ross is a past player with Victor Harbor. Picture: Cory Sutton

“At this stage we aren’t sure how many games he will play. However, when he does it will be special for our members who watched his dad play and still talk about his feats.

“It will also be special for the Gibbs family to see Bryce pull on the same guernsey Ross did 25 years ago.”

As reported in September, a number of local SA clubs were after the signature of the tough and skilled midfielder.

Gibbs will join a number of former South Adelaide players at Victor Harbor, including forward Sam Overall, utility Ben Heaslip and 2023 GSFL Mail Medallist Jesse McKinnon.

The move marks another major coup for the GSFL which has landed other former AFL players in the past including Ben Kennedy (Myponga-Sellicks) and West Coast premiership player Jack Redden, who recently led Willunga to a grand final appearance.