Bryce Gibbs backs up words with actions in pleasing performance in Crows’ SANFL win over Eagles

As soon as Bryce Gibbs found out he was dropped from Adelaide’s AFL side this week he was on the phone to one man declaring he was “all in”.

Bryce Gibbs had 28 disposals in Adelaide’s SANFL win over the Eagles. Picture: Tom Huntley

As soon as Bryce Gibbs found out he was dropped from Adelaide’s AFL side this week he was on the phone to one man declaring he was “all in”.

And on Saturday he backed up his words with actions by winning 28 disposals, six clearances and six tackles in the Crows’ SANFL win over Woodville-West Torrens.

The high profile victim of Adelaide’s disappointing loss to Geelong last week, Gibbs played his first SANFL game in over 13 years and his attitude was “outstanding” according to coach Heath Younie.

“As Don (Pyke) alluded to throughout the week he is a proud man and he was disappointed to be left out of the AFL team, but he rang me as soon as he got the news and said I’m all in,” Younie said.

“His attitude leading into the game and certainly throughout the game with our younger guys speaks highly of his character.

“I thought he played a consistent game. We saw some improvements which obviously Don and the match committee (spoke) about which I’m not going to go into detail around.

“But I thought it was a good performance. Whether that gets a recall back into the AFL the match committee will make a decision (but) I was really happy for him to come out and look like he enjoyed the game and that was one of the key messages to him.”

Gibbs hunts the footy at Woodville Oval. Picture: Tom Huntley

Gibbs started on the ball where he read it well off ruckman Paul Hunter’s hand, he won important footy in the back half and rediscovered the creative kick that seemed to have deserted him in recent weeks. His foot pass to hit Elliott Himmelberg in the centre of the ground in the second quarter was a feature.

While all eyes were on Gibbs, fellow midfielder Patrick Wilson was named best-on for his 42 disposal game and Hugh Greenwood pushed his claims for an AFL call up with 33 disposals and two goals.

“I thought Hugh played above the level. I’ve been challenging Hugh to be able to play an AFL branded game at SANFL level and his movement around the contest was as good as I have seen in the last two weeks,” Younie said.

“His game against Norwood in the trial was equally as good, but he got us going today and that was an AFL standard game.”

Hugh Greenwood had 33 touches and two goals for the Crows’ SANFL team. Picture: Tom Huntley.

Greenwood’s disposal going inside 50 was very good and he found Tyson Stengle twice with his clever left-foot that also hit the scoreboard with 2.2.

Stengle looked like he could have done anything and his 2.5 could have easily been a six-goal haul with a bit of luck.

Jordan Gallucci had 20 disposals and a goal playing a combination of midfield and forward while Elliott Himmelberg showed positive signs as a lead-up half-forward and Darcy Fogarty continued to play across half-back with the absence of Andy Otten who went to Melbourne as the Crows’ AFL travelling emergency.