Bryce Gibbs is well into the twilight of a career that promised much, gave a lot and ultimately did not reach the absolute heights of some of his peers. Perhaps not coincidentally, that is true of the current Adelaide group who are starting to look as old and slow as Gibbs has become, and the fact that they picked him for round 1 over a youngster like Myles Poholke may underline how much of a pinch the club is under to get results. For fantasy uses, Gibbs has put in many campaigns of sterling service but his utility now is almost nil.
Bryce Gibbs is well into the twilight of a career that promised much, gave a lot and ultimately did not reach the absolute heights of some of his peers. Perhaps not coincidentally, that is true of the current Adelaide group who are starting to look as old and slow as Gibbs has become, and the fact that they picked him for round 1 over a youngster like Myles Poholke may underline how much of a pinch the club is under to get results. For fantasy uses, Gibbs has put in many campaigns of sterling service but his utility now is almost nil.
Bryce colder than ice
In his worst campaign since his 2007 debut, Bryce Gibbs could manage only four fantasy tons out of 12 appearances coming off three years of averaging over 100. The most calamitous falls came in his contested and clearance rates, both cut in half. This highlighted a move away from the engine room to a flanker role, partly in response to the injury to Tom Doedee. He spent the middle part of the year in the SANFL, a level for which he is still way too good. Gibbs was not the answer to Adelaide's search for an inside-outside burst player - Brad Crouch filled that need - so his position in the structure is still uncertain. Role players of his vintage are in danger of plying their trade in the seconds during what looks suspiciously like a rebuild. His only saving grace is that the departure of Cam Ellis-Yolmen might mean he is thrown back into the centre more often. He gains BAC eligibility this year, which means he's a middle-rounder with some downside.
Bryce Gibbs has been the one constant at Adelaide in another year where the club has gone through more rollercoaster dramas than a season of MAFS. He hasn't been immune from trade speculation, one of at least half a dozen serious candidates for a trade, if you believe the rumour mill which is at fever pitch at the moment. His discount for coming off injury made him very popular in salary cap fantasy competitions this year, and the pay off has been scoring at premium levels with no sign of dropping off. Will the looming instability affect him in August, though?
You should be dancing, Bryce
Injuries to star Crows last season meant that Bryce Gibbs's first year at the club was spent far more at the midfield coalface than would suit his skills. He delivered similar numbers to his previous year at Carlton, losing a mark or two per game to end up eight fantasy points down. The return of Rory Sloane in round 15 saw him spend a bit more time on the outside and up forward, for less than a goal per game. He added 40 metres gained despite dropping a disposal per game. The Crows used Rory Laird playing clean up behind the packs last season, a role Gibbs often filled at Carlton, but the coaches made noises about wanting him to be more of an inside/outside burst type, which is not his one wood. Adelaide has a few more HFF options on its list going into 2019 and, injury gods and coach stubbornness permitting, should be able to free up Gibbs to play his natural game which is floating about in the middle to receive handballs and use his elite kick to distribute.
Bryce Gibbs has kept his fitness and form while many about him have fallen at Adelaide this season, backing his career best in 2017 with a year almost as good to this point. He doesn't get tags and isn't asked to tag himself much at his new club, which means a pleasingly consistent set of scores for his fantasy owners. The Crows' season is on the brink but Gibbs seems like he will put up his numbers no matter what happens, which means he will be relied upon in draft leagues in particular going into fantasy finals.
How deep is your love for Gibbs
Posting his fifth year of 100+ fantasy average from a full 22 games - Scott Pendlebury the only other to do that since 2009 - Bryce Gibbs broke his personal best in tackles and overall score last season as he enjoyed Brendon Bolton's lucrative ball-retention system at the Blues. Only 10 of his 27 possessions per game are contested, even though he is top 40 for clearances. Walking into Adelaide's midfield as an established star, Gibbs will no doubt get plenty of feeds out the back of packs from the Crouch brothers. That may result in plenty of kicks but not as many marks, as the Crow gameplan is a lot more direct than the methodical approach at Carlton. On the bright side, Gibbs is a past master at linking from half back, a valuable role in the absence of Brodie Smith. He will be drafted very early.
