AFL Trade Period: Carlton insists Bryce Gibbs will not be traded to Adelaide Crows

CARLTON is refusing to talk with Adelaide leaving contracted Blues midfielder Bryce Gibbs stuck in the AFL trade market’s “no man land”.

Bryce Gibbs celebrates after kicking a goal. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

CARLTON is refusing to talk with Adelaide leaving contracted Blues midfielder Bryce Gibbs stuck in the AFL trade market’s “no man land”.

The Blues and Crows have not spoken since the clubs met at the start of AFL trade talks at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne on Monday morning. All calls and moves by Adelaide list manager Justin Reid to open negotiations with his Carlton counterparts led by Stephen Silvagni have been repeatedly rebuffed by the Blues.

And with the trade deadline a week away (1.30pm next Thursday), the strong message from Princes Park remains: “Bryce Gibbs is staying (at Carlton).”

Carlton is prepared to copy Port Adelaide’s stand in the 2003 AFL trade period when the Power stood on principle by refusing to hand uncontracted wingman Nick Stevens to Collingwood arguing it did not want to make a premiership rival stronger.

Stevens ultimately left Alberton, joining Carlton in the pre-season draft with no compensation to Port Adelaide.

There is a no-pain advantage to Carlton’s firm stand on Gibbs. And as a contracted player, Gibbs has no exit path to Adelaide through a pre-season draft next month — ensuring the Blues will not be left red-faced and empty handed by such a strong stand.

Carlton has left Gibbs’ manager Nigel Carmody to deliver a “significant offer” from Adelaide — or to broker a winning deal that could involve a third-party club. And it is clear that the Blues want major compensation for releasing Gibbs from his contract.

AFL TRADES: LATEST NEWS IN OUR LIVE BLOG

The Blues say all external argument that Adelaide’s first-round draft pick (No. 13) is a fair deal for Gibbs is irrelevant because the 27-year-old midfielder still has three years to serve on a five-year contract.

Reid — rather than Gibbs — dropped the Day One bombshell at trade talks by revealing the South Australian wanted to return home for “personal reasons”. These are related to Gibbs and his partner, Lauren Tscharke, wanting to reunite with their families in Adelaide to have a support network for their young son, Charlie.

As 209-game Gibbs is not seeking to leave Carlton for football reasons, the Blues maintain they would prefer to work through the issues of setting up a greater support network around Gibbs’ family.

Carlton coach Brendon Bolton, who is to start his second year at the Blues, also is reluctant to release one of his team’s leading and consistent players at a critical time of the rebuild at Princes Park.

Carlton’s anger with the Crows is summed up by how the Blues describe Adelaide’s pitch at trade talks: “Arrogant, unethical and lacking respect for Carlton to the point of being disgraceful.”

Carlton has dismissed speculation of having a wish list from Adelaide that includes second-year forward Mitch McGovern, second-year defender Jake Lever and speedy midfielder-forward Charlie Cameron.

The Blues are prepared to listen to Adelaide’s pitch through Gibbs’ manager. And they say: “It will need to be a significant offer or nothing will get done.”

Carlton is not interested in uncontracted Crows midfielder Jarryd Lyons, who — according to his manager Winston Rous — has six offers across the 18-club AFL to consider.

The impasse could force Gibbs to turn to the AFL Players’ Association to organise mediation between Carlton and Adelaide. But the sticking point with the Blues will be demanding contracts — in particular long-term, five-year contracts — be honoured by players.

[e-mail]

Originally published as AFL Trade Period: Carlton insists Bryce Gibbs will not be traded to Adelaide Crows