Star Crows recruit Bryce Gibbs braces himself for first game against his former club Carlton

STAR Crow Bryce Gibbs says he is expecting “a little bit of banter from some of my mates’’ when he faces his former club Carlton for the first time at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

Bryce Gibbs and Jack Graham. Picture: SARAH REED

STAR Crows recruit Bryce Gibbs says he is expecting “a little bit of banter from some of my mates’’ when he faces his former club Carlton for the first time at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

After 231 games and 137 goals for the Blues from 2007-17 before sealing a trade back to his home State at the end of last season, Gibbs admits there will be a few more nerves than usual when he runs onto the ground for his seventh match in the Adelaide tricolours.

“It will be something that will probably get built up a fair bit in the media,’’ he told The Advertiser of his first date against the club where he won a best and fairest in 2014.

“And when I’m on the ground I’m sure there will be a little bit of banter back and forth but it will all be in good fun.’’

Former Blues now Crows Sam Jacobs and Bryce Gibbs. Picture: SARAH REED

Adelaide had hoped to secure Glenelg product Gibbs, now 29, as its first father-son selection at the 2006 national draft before he was ruled ineligible when it was revealed his dad, dual Tigers premiership player Ross, had fallen agonisingly short of the required amount of games.

But he was granted his wish to return home at the end of last season and has played a starring role for the Crows in the opening six rounds, averaging 28 disposals and a goal in a patched-up midfield due to injuries to club champions Matt Crouch and Rory Sloane.

Coach Don Pyke said Gibbs had been everything Adelaide had hoped for and more.

“We were keen to get him on board and he’s come in and fitted in beautifully,’’ Pyke said.

“It was a bit of a fresh start for him to come in and make your way at a new footy club where you don’t know people.

“Even though he’s been in the system for a while and has played over 200 games there’s always that challenge when you come into a new club to earn your stripes and the respect of the guys you are playing with.

“He was really strong on doing that and the way that he has attacked his training form from day one, his form is a good guide to the work he did and the regard that he’s now held within the group.

“He’s playing to a level we thought he would be capable of.’’

While the Crows have a strong 4-2 record and are eyeing a fourth consecutive finals campaign, the Blues are off to the first 0-6 start in their proud history.