Bryce Gibbs says a fresh start at the Crows and losing family to Alzheimer’s was behind his head shave this week

FAMILY is driving Bryce Gibbs on and off the field this season after revealing his motivation to shave his head was a fresh start at the Crows and the toll dementia had taken on his loved ones.

Adelaide recruit Bryce Gibbs will shave his head to mark a fresh start at the Crows and to raise money for Dementia Australia. Picture: Tait Schmaal.

FAMILY is driving Bryce Gibbs on and off the field this season after revealing his motivation to shave his head was a fresh start at the Crows and the toll dementia had taken on his loved ones.

After 231 games in 11 years at Carlton, Gibbs has returned to Adelaide to be closer to family and will start the next chapter of his career with a new look after growing his hair for the past four years.

On Thursday he will shave his locks while raising money for the Crows Children’s Foundation and Dementia Australia after losing two family members to the disease in recent years.

“My mum’s grandpa had Alzheimer’s pretty bad and I saw him deteriorate pretty quickly which wasn’t good to watch,” Gibbs said.

“And my fiancee Lauren’s pop (Jim) passed away about three months ago from Alzheimer-related illness.

“We were lucky enough to come back three weeks before that to see him, but by then it was a hard time and he didn’t really know what was going on which was tough.

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“So it’s a bit close to home having touched both of our families so we thought we would help out where we can.

“Whether the trade went through or not I sort of had it in the back of my mind that I’d cut it for this year. Then the trade went through and I thought ‘awesome, fresh start, lock it in’ and if I could raise a few dollars along the way then even better.”

Family was a driving force for Gibbs to return to Adelaide and he’s convinced his two-year-old son Charlie to swap his navy blue guernsey for the tri colours.

Star Adelaide Crows recruit Bryce Gibbs with fiancee Lauren Tscharke and son Charlie. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

“He’s got a little number six long sleeved guernsey running around and the ‘go Crows’ down pat so he’s on board,” Gibbs said.

“He loved coming to the club at Carlton, I’d get him in there a couple of times a week, Loz would drop him off and he’d run around the changerooms while I finished the last 45 minutes of my day while she went off to work.

“So he’s still getting a feel for the Adelaide Footy Club but no doubt he’ll work it all out and have everyone wrapped around his finger like he did (at the Blues).

“It’s definitely got a lot of advantages being home, particularly with the little fella being able to grow up with his nannas and pops, and aunties and uncles, he’s got a little cousin the same age as well so for them to spend more time together has been great to see.”

Gibbs, 28, said fatherhood had made him look at life differently.

“It’s certainly not about me anymore, a lot of my years it has been about me and I’ve been pretty selfish over the journey,” he said. “So it definitely makes you start looking at things a bit differently and trying to be a role model and set a good example for him.”

On Saturday Gibbs will play in his first Showdown against Port Adelaide, albeit a pre-season game, but having played against the Port Magpies when he was at Glenelg he knows what to expect.

“Obviously growing up you understand there’s a genuine rivalry between the supporters and once the ball is bounced,” he said.

“It will be interesting to see if it plays out (on the weekend), it’s a JLT game but I still reckon there will be a bit of feeling in it.

“I haven’t played at Alberton for a few years but even playing for the Bays I saw that rivalry and this will be another level again.”

To donate to the shave, visit https://give.everydayhero.com/au/bryces-bun-is-done