New Crow Bryce Gibbs forecasts a fiery clash against his old Carlton mates
HEADS might roll when star Crows recruit Bryce Gibbs confronts some old Carlton mates for the first time at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
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HEADS might roll when star Crows recruit Bryce Gibbs confronts some old Carlton mates for the first time at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
“It will be a fierce and competitive contest and we’ll be trying knock each other’s block off, no doubt,’’ the standout midfielder said.
“Certainly once the ball’s bounced it will be game on. There will be no friendships for two hours but after the game we’ll shake hands and everything will be back to normal.’’
Gibbs, who has been outstanding in his first six games for the Crows, averaging 28 disposals, including 12 contested possessions, and 6.5 clearances, admitted the build-up to his meeting with former teammates will be different than any other game he has played.
“It’s a bit hard to hard to explain,’’ said South Australian Gibbs, who played 231 games for Carlton from 2007-17 after being selected at pick one from Glenelg at the 2006 national draft.
The 29-year-old was traded to the Crows at the end of last season after expressing a desire to return home for family reasons.
“I’m certainly not the first bloke to come up against his old side, nor will I be the last,
but it is certainly a little bit different,’’ he said.
“No doubt there will be a bit of banter during the week and a few text messages and whatnot along the way, but for the two hours on Saturday night it will be game on.’’
Gibbs’ great mate, Carlton captain Marc Murphy, won’t play because of injury, leaving him to nominate Kade Simpson, Dale Thomas, Ed Curnow and Matthew Kreuzer, if he recovers from injury, as the ex-teammates he said he is most looking forward to crossing paths with.
While his new club is well-placed with a 4-2 record despite a long injury list, Gibbs former team is off to the first 0-6 start in its proud history.
However, he backed Carlton’s rebuilding plan and believes it is on the right track.
“I’ve been keeping a close eye on them and they are doing it a little bit tough at the moment, but I know the strong characters they’ve got in that group and the leaders that will be driving them each week to improve and get better,” Gibbs said.
“I know they certainly go out each week thinking they can win that game of footy and it will be no different this week.
“I know the people inside that footy club, they are doing the right things and they are on the right track.”
Gibbs said Blues supporters should be excited about the development of young players such as Charlie Curnow, Zac Fisher and Paddy Dow.
“They have such a young, inexperienced group playing at the moment, and the more games they get into those guys the better off they will be,” Gibbs said.
“Who knows? It might not take two or three years for them, it can jump pretty quick.
“I know the path they’re going down, they’ll be fine.”
Adelaide captain Taylor Walker will have scans on his sore hamstring on Monday but the results are unlikely to be revealed until Tuesday.
andrew.capel@news.com.au
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