Adelaide Crows to hit Hawthorn at full steam in season opener, says Bryce Gibbs

The vibe is back and the Crows are full of confidence. Now, Bryce Gibbs says, Adelaide must live up to the pre-season optimism and get its season off to a bang against Hawthorn.

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Having had the heart ripped out of its midfield last season, Adelaide will show no mercy to a Hawthorn unit without Tom Mitchell and Tom Scully in Saturday’s season opener.

Gibbs, 30, arrived at Adelaide from Carlton last year hoping for a flag and finals at worst. Veteran Gibbs spent the winter papering over cracks in an injury hit midfield during Adelaide’s slide to 12th.

Brad Crouch missed 2018 due to groin surgery while co-captain Rory Sloane was sidelined for nine games with a Lisfranc strain. Matt Crouch also missed a month.

“It excites me that we have got the full contingency available and out on the park,” said Gibbs, who finished behind Rory Laird in Adelaide’s Brownlow Medal voting.

“We have been working together really well over the summer and I just can’t wait to be playing with all those guys on Saturday.

“The continuity probably wasn’t there last year with injuries and what-not. It excites me that we’re all fit and healthy.

“The vibe is back and everyone is keen to get the season off to a start with a bang.”

Mitchell is already looking to 2020 following a knee reconstruction while Scully is recovering from a serious ankle injury leaving the Hawks engine room looking vulnerable to all but hardened Gibbs.

“They’re still a strong side, even without Mitchell,” said Gibbs with Jaeger O’Meara, Liam Shiels and Isaac Smith carrying enormous on-ball responsibility.

“They have got a really great midfield, they have got a lot of running halfbacks and their forwards are dangerous as always.

Bryce Gibbs says Adelaide needs to go full-steam ahead into its first game against Hawthorn. Picture: Sarah reed

“We’re certainly not going to underestimate them just because the reigning Brownlow medallist isn’t in their midfield.

“They are still a tough side.”

Adelaide, the 2017 grand finalist, is expected back to bounce back form last year’s bust but talk is cheap.

Gibbs says the Crows must live up to pre-season optimism surrounding West Lakes against a rival it hasn’t beaten at Adelaide Oval.

“We are under no illusion it is a tough competition, tight as it has ever been. The real stuff, challenge starts now,” said Gibbs, wary of a Adelaide’s nine losses in its 10 previous games against Hawthorn.

“We will the hit the Hawks full-steam ahead this week.”

Wingman Paul Seedsman has been ruled out of the season opener with a fractured finger while defender Luke Brown has been hobbled by an ankle injury.

Gibbs expects impressive Tasmanian first round draft pick Chayce Jones to debut against the Hawks.

“Absolutely, the way we have seen him come and learn. He runs really well, has exceptional skills, willing to put pressure on,” he said.