Retired Hawthorn premiership star Josh Gibson has a ‘dangerous’ new sport and loving post-football life

RETIRED Hawthorn premiership player Josh Gibson has ditched his footy boots and begun a “dangerous” new career. Here’s the former star like you’ve never seen him before. SEE THE PICS, WATCH THE VIDEO

RETIRED Hawthorn premiership defender Josh Gibson has settled into life post-football and begun a new career in campdrafting.

Gibson, 34, developed a passion for the Australian equestrian sport after being introduced to the concept in 2016 and has officially swapped his footy boots for horse riding boots after announcing his retirement from the AFL last year.

WATCH VISION OF JOSH GIBSON IN ACTION IN HIS NEW SPORT, CAMPDRAFTING, IN THE VIDEO ABOVE

Once he was invited to watch a campdraft competition he never looked back, learning the ropes and using it to channel his competitive energy.

“I rode a lot as a kid and I stopped riding because of footy,” Gibson told the Herald Sun.

“After watching that competition I was like ‘I want to give this a go’ and the next year I did. I was hooked.

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Josh Gibson with his horse Mobile Price Tag (left) and his mates horse Gooderah Sawyers Legend (right). Picture: Michael Klein

“A lot of guys, when they finish footy they might go and play local footy somewhere or play some sort of team sport. The great thing about this sport is everyone is really encouraging.

“I know at the end of the day you’re competing by yourself but when you go to a draft everyone is out to help one another and see you develop and I like that aspect of it because it’s still a real team environment.

“It allows me to keep my competitive juices flowing because I am a pretty competitive person, so getting out there and trying to rustle up some cattle is filling the void after retiring from football.”

Gibson owns three horses of his own, two of which he has trained to compete in campdraft competitions, where individual riders use their mount to guide a cow around a set course.

He trains with his coach, David Murphy, at a farm near Ballarat where his new friends the Parker family — Adam, Sue and their son Jason — own a property and care for his horses.

His family is currently building their own farm.

Gibson aboard his horse Mobile Price Tag during campdrafting training. Picture: Michael Klein

Gibson owns three horses, two of which he currently competes with in campdrafting competitions. Picture: Michael Klein

Gibson competes in different categories aimed at various skill levels and won his first competition blue ribbon at encouragement level (for those who haven’t won before) in South Australia last month.

He has also finished second in a maiden event, the next level up, from a field of about 200.

“Winning was a pretty big achievement because there are a lot of competitors and it takes time,” Gibson said.

“It’s a tough sport because you’ve got three minds you’ve got to think about — you’ve got your own, your horse’s and the cows.

“Your job is to cut one away from the mob, get it up the front, block it a few times, call gates where they then open the gates to the arena and the aim is to steer the beast through a figure of eight course and steer it through the gates to score.

“You’re scored on your ability to control it in the camp and you’re scored on how well you complete the course and if you go through the gate you obviously get a score.

Gibson prepares to round up some cattle. Picture: Michael Klein

“I did a few (competitions) last year but not too many because of football. I’ve been to about six or seven drafts so I haven’t done a great deal.

“I’m lucky I’ve got a pretty good coach who’s been working with me.”

Gibson was a member of Hawthorn’s three-peat premiership teams from 2013-15, won two club best and fairest awards in flag years and was known as one of the AFL’s most courageous players during his career.

WATCH VISION OF JOSH GIBSON IN ACTION IN HIS NEW SPORT, CAMPDRAFTING, IN THE VIDEO ABOVE

He’s still using all the traits that made him one of the best defenders in the game but in a different way.

“It is full on. It’s a dangerous sport,” Gibson said.

“Obviously horses fall over at times but I’ve ridden a fair bit and I like to think I’m in control.

“There’s always going to be injuries and you have falls but hopefully (when they happen) they’re not too big.”

Since announcing his retirement from the AFL last year after 225 career games for Hawthorn and North Melbourne, Gibson has successfully transitioned into life after football.

Gibson's new-found team, Team Mobile. Picture: Michael Klein

As well as training his horses and competing in campdraft events, Gibson spent time in the African jungle for ‘I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here’ and will soon relocate to Sydney to launch a new skincare brand, Thank Goat.

He has also started commentating on Fox Footy.

“I’m really not missing footy,” he said. “I feel like I had a good career. We had a lot of team success and we were lucky enough to win premierships so I got to experience it all.

“My body was pretty banged up at the end and I didn’t have anything left to give.

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“I think it’s easier to retire with no regrets when you know that you gave it your all and I definitely know that I gave the game as much as I could and I had nothing left.

“I’m quite content being retired.

“Watching the boys especially in that last quarter against Geelong I was getting a little aggressive at the TV but I think that’s more just because I’ve experienced that with them and seen Geelong come back before when I’ve been on the field.

“I’m a pretty loud supporter that’s for sure.”

Gibson and his horse round up a cow to complete a course. Picture: Michael Klein

Gibson aboard his horse during campdrafting training. Picture: Michael Klein