Bryce Gibbs shocks Carlton with request to return home to South Australia
CARLTON was blindsided and angry when it learned of Bryce Gibbs’ intended defection to Adelaide, with the revelations rocking day one of AFL Trade Week.
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CARLTON first learned of Bryce Gibbs’ intended defection to Adelaide on Monday morning.
A club official, who admitted the Blues were blindsided and angry, said: “We are stunned ... absolutely stunned.”
Gibbs, 27, rocked day one of AFL Trade Week with revelations he wants to return home to South Australia for “personal reasons’’.
While Gibbs’ decision came as a bombshell, the Blues have long prepared to lose dashing defender Zac Tuohy, who on Monday officially said he wanted a trade to Geelong.
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Gibbs has three years to run on a contract which is estimated to be as much as $650,000 per season.
Carlton head of football Andrew McKay said the club wanted to sit down with Gibbs and discuss the reasons behind his desire to leave.
“While the club acknowledges the personal reasons behind Bryce’s request, he is a contracted player and we intend to work through those matters with both him and his management,” he said.
The Blues are aware of the issues Gibbs is dealing with.
Speculation linking Gibbs to a trade home circulated in the week before the Grand Final and his management denied to the Herald Sun any contact with Adelaide, but talks are believed to have come to a head late last week.
At the weekend, Gibbs was photographed with Crows skipper Taylor Walker in Byron Bay, where Walker’s teammates Rory Sloane was married to long-time partner Belinda Riverso.
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Gibbs was in Byron Bay with his partner Lauren Tscharke, who is also from Adelaide.
Adelaide Crows list manager Justin Reid — who was a player manager before joining the Crows at the end of 2014 — announced the bombshell proposal to kick-start the AFL trade window.
“Bryce and his management have spoken to the Adelaide Football Club and he’s got a strong desire to come home,” Reid said.
“But we also respect that he’s a Carlton Football Club player, he’s contracted, so we’ll leave it at that in the meantime.”
Gibbs was the No.1 pick in 2006 national draft and signed a five-year deal in 2014. He played 22 games this year, averaging a career-high 26 disposals, and kicked 18 goals.
Reid wouldn’t speculate on whether Adelaide’s first-round pick, currently No.13, would be enough to complete the Gibbs transaction.
Midfielder Jarryd Lyons has also been linked to a Gibbs deal.
The Blues had put up a three-year deal for Tuohy, but were aware of the strong interest from both Geelong and North Melbourne.
Because he’s not a free agent, the Cats will have to work out a trade with the Blues.
Originally published as Bryce Gibbs shocks Carlton with request to return home to South Australia
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