Former Hawthorn defender Josh Gibson admits tense confrontation with Alastair Clarkson helped turn career around

A STERN confrontation with Hawthorn coach and notorious grump Alistair Clarkson helped turn Josh Gibson’s career around after a rocky start at his new club.

A STERN confrontation with Hawthorn coach and notorious grump Alastair Clarkson helped turn Josh Gibson’s career around after a rocky start at his new club.

The former defender has revealed Clarkson told him to “fit in or f*** off’’ in a tense exchange after a series of off-field dramas following his trade from North Melbourne to Waverley Park.

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Josh Gibson at the 2010 Grand Prix.

Gibson on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! Picture Nigel Wright.

Speaking to contestants on I’m a Celebrity — Get Me Out of Here! Gibson said he was left anxious after he received media attention for all the wrong reasons in 2010.

“I got into trouble once,’’ he admitted.

“We were allowed to go to the Grand Prix on the Sunday and I may have gone out until the wee hours of the morning.’’

Gibson said he was informed the next day by club management that an article about his night out was set to appear in the Herald Sun.

“I had the worst anxiety that night trying to sleep,’’ he said.

“It was like, third page — ‘Josh was out partying, thinking he was bigger than Elvis’ ...

“So (former team mate) Campbell Brown called me Elvis the next year.’’

He said Jeff Kennett threatened to fine him more than $50,000 for the indiscretion but it was reduced to just $3000 but the situation only worsened the following week when the young recruit tore his hamstring.

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Josh Gibson talks about the spray. Source: Network Ten

Former Hawthorn player Josh Gibson has revealed on I'm A Celebrity ... Get me Out Of Here how a stern talking to from Alastair Clarkson changed him. Picture: Channel 10

Compounding the situation even further, Gibson said he was pulled over by the police — and a film crew for the television show Highway Patrol — when he was caught speeding at more than 20km/h above an 80km/h limit as he raced to make a physiotherapy appointment.

“That was like the big three,’’ he said.

“It was my first year at Hawthorn.

“They would have been thinking `Why have we got this guy?’.

“Clarko got into me in the team meeting, he looked me in the eye and said `Fit in or f*** off’.

“Then after that I was a model citizen.’’

Originally published as Former Hawthorn defender Josh Gibson admits tense confrontation with Alastair Clarkson helped turn career around