Adelaide said they’d never stop trying to get Bryce Gibbs back, and they finally succeeded

EVEN before Bryce Gibbs was drafted to Carlton in 2006, Adelaide declared it would “do everything in its power to get him home”. After 11 years, that wish finally came true.

Bryce Gibbs will now call himself a Crow. Picture: AAP

IT took 11 years — not the predicted two — but Adelaide was true to its word that it would eventually get Bryce Gibbs back.

Back in 2006, even before Gibbs was drafted to Carlton with pick No. 1, then Adelaide recruiting manager James Fantasia put the football world on notice and told the Herald Sun Gibbs would one day be a Crow.

Adelaide never gave up, and while it took longer than Fantasia would have predicted, Gibbs is finally a Crow.

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“We’ll be making every effort possible to make sure Bryce Gibbs plays the majority of his career at the Adelaide footy club,” Fantasia told the Herald Sun in September 2006.

Bryce Gibbs before the draft in 2006.

11 years on and with a few games under the belt, Gibbs in his Adelaide polo. Picture: Getty Images

“That’s on notice and I think the Gibbs family is very happy with that concept.

“Bryce is the one who will make the decision and that will be two years down the track.

“We will do everything in our power to get him home, and if it’s not that time, it will be the time after until we do it.

“We make no bones about it. He should be with the Adelaide footy club. We’re a victim here.”

Adelaide missed out on nabbing Gibbs under the father-son rule, after his father Ross had not played 200 SANFL games when the Crows entered the AFL at the start of 1991.

Ross ended his career with 253 games for Glenelg.

Bryce Gibbs was long touted the no.1 pick.

One-time Crows recruiting manager James Fantasia.

There was even talk of a trade back then too, as Gibbs had to sign a two-year deal and with the Crows unlikely to fall to the bottom of the ladder, a trade was always the only option.

Homesickness was an issue facing the Crows in 2006.

Having Fantasia said at the time he was confident the club would one day benefit from stars coming home.

“I’m absolutely certain, whether I’m in the chair or someone else is, that there’ll be a few presents come our way over the next five to 10 years. No question,” he said.

“It (moving interstate) is not for everyone. Nothing’s forever.”