Michael Gibbons: Former Carlton player joins Yarrawonga Football Club

Delisted Carlton player Michael Gibbons will continue plying his trade with Yarrawonga, almost a decade after another former Blue.

Yarrawonga’s most recent star recruit with strong ties to Carlton was superstar forward Brendan Fevola whose stint with the club was headlined by back-to-back flags, goalkicking heroics and controversy.

The Ovens and Murray team’s latest addition via the Blues is a player, who, if he had his way, would be still playing at AFL level.

Michael Gibbons finally forced his way into the elite level via VFL club Williamstown in 2019 when Carlton offered him its final list spot.

But after three seasons and 41 senior matches, mainly as a small forward and not his favoured midfield role, the 26-year-old was delisted.

Michael Gibbons is lining up for Yarrawonga in the Ovens and Murray league this year. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

“I didn’t really see it coming,” Gibbons said.

“It is something I can look back on in the near future and be very proud of, but at the time it was very disheartening.

“I had the option to go back to VFL, but I decided I just wanted to get away from it.”

Gibbons briefly played in the O and M for rival club Lavington, but the chance to reunite with former Williamstown teammates, Leigh Masters and Willie Wheeler, at Yarrawonga was the clincher.

Masters and Wheeler made the move at the beginning of last season.

Masters won the Pigeons’ best and fairest in the Covid-shortened season, but a serious foot injury cruelled Wheeler’s debut year.

Wheeler is on track to resume playing and the talented trio will be key players in lifting Yarrawonga into finals calculations in a competition with no clear cut flag favourite.

“The club wants nothing but success and is putting everything into it,” he said.

“The last couple of years with Covid has been a shemozzle for everyone.

“Hopefully we can all get some clear air, crowds back and have the place rocking again.”

Brendan Fevola had a massive impact on the Ovens and Murray when he played for Yarrawonga. Picture: Scott Chris

Chris Kennedy, who co-coached Yarrawonga’s 2012-13 premierships when Fevola was at the club, said Gibbons was also poised to make a big impact on the O and M.

“Normally when you get a recruit coming into the Ovens and Murray from the AFL they are definitely finished at that level,” he said.

“Who knows if Carlton’s coaches didn’t change he might be still on an AFL list.

“To get someone who is still in the prime of his footy career is huge and he’s going to have some good players around him.

“I don’t think we will ever get a Fevola again in country footy.”