Crows star Bryce Gibbs cops his first demotion to SANFL since returning to Adelaide from Carlton

Bryce Gibbs will miss his first game with the Crows since returning to Adelaide from Carlton two years ago as a major signing after showing poor form at the start of AFL Season 2019.

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Adelaide’s biggest signing of the past two years, 2006 No. 1 draftee Bryce Gibbs, is the biggest scalp at Crows selection for almost a decade.

Don Pyke has cast aside the 256-game Gibbs in the biggest unforced selection axing at West Lakes since Tyson Edwards was cut by Neil Craig in May 2010.

Gibbs loses his place in the Adelaide 22 — after appearing unable to show any run from the Crows defence last Thursday in the home loss to Geelong — for the first time in 26 AFL games since leaving Carlton at the end of 2017.

Gibbs and injured wingman Paul Seedsman (knee) are replaced in the Adelaide line-up to play North Melbourne at the Melbourne Docklands on Saturday evening by strong-bodied midfielder Cam Ellis-Yolmen and fellow midfielder Myles Poholke.

Bryce Gibbs of the Crows during the Round 3 match against Geelong. Picture: AAP

Cameron Ellis-Yolmen plays a in pre-season game for the Crows. Picture: Sarah Reed

Pyke was blunt in explaining Gibbs could not hold his place in the AFL line-up by form. Gibbs will play his first SANFL game since 2006 — but with the Adelaide reserves rather than his family’s home club at Glenelg.

“Bryce’s form has been patchy,” Pyke said. “And not at the usual consistent high standard that both he and we expect.

“We operate in an environment where we must reward people for strong performances and from a midfield perspective Cam Ellis-Yolmen has been consistently doing that.”

Poholke’s record in the SANFL this season — six goals in two games — also was too tempting for Pyke considering Adelaide’s lack of scoring this season that is six goals down on the phenomenal 108-point average set by the Crows in 2017.

Adelaide (1-2) will play the winless Kangaroos with lead ruckman Sam Jacobs missing his second consecutive match with a knee injury. Of interest is whether Pyke presents key forward Josh Jenkins with more time in ruck to overcome the limitations that could come with the novice Riley O’Brien against North Melbourne veteran Todd Goldstein.

NORTH MELBOURNE has made four unforced changes after coach Brad Scott admitted he might have underestimated the time needed for his raft of recruits to settle in the Kangaroos line-up.

Scott has recalled forward Mason Wood, midfielders Jed Anderson and Paul Ahern and rookie-listed forward Cameron Zurhaar.

They replace rookie-listed ruckman Todd Campbell, Melbourne recruit Dom Tyson, key defender Ben McKay and midfielder-forward Bailey Scott, the father-son pick who is already being rested.

PORT ADELAIDE is unchanged with coach Ken Hinkley standing by the 22 who gave up the lead to Brisbane in time-on on Saturday to lose by 17 points to the Lions at the Gabba.

This follows midfielder Tom Rockliff proving his fitness after being knocked out after half-time in his return to the Gabba and midfielder-forward Robbie Gary dismissing any concern with a late shoulder sting from the frantic clash with the Lions.

Despite a light training run for first-round draftee Xavier Duursma at Alberton on Thursday, the teenager will play against Richmond at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

RICHMOND, the 2017 AFL premier and one of the 2018 preliminary finalists, will face the Power without so many of its premiership heroes. The Tigers this week will be without captain Trent Cotchin and suspended Brownlow Medallist Dustin Martin after earlier losing All-Australians, defender Alex Rance and forward Jack Riewoldt.

Damien Hardwick has called up midfielder Jack Ross for his first AFL game, promoted tyros Shai Bolton and Liam Baker and recalled premiership trio Dylan Grimes, Bachar Houli and Josh Caddy.