A master inspires Bryce Gibbs push for top ...........

[Aphrodite]

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23973955-19742,00.html

MIX with the best and you quickly appreciate exactly how much you need to improve to join the elite.

That much is crystal clear to young football whiz Bryce Gibbs, the kid from Adelaide who joined Carlton amid fanfare and celebrations as the No. 1 draft pick in 2006.

Gibbs immediately embarked on a learning curve that has driven him on and off the field.

At 17, and before he had played a game, he was recruited to the Blues' leadership group - where he listened to and learned from an experienced core.

Then, along came Chris Judd, the pre-eminent player in the competition, and a role model any kid would embrace.

Throughout, Gibbs has been watching and learning.

And he is starting to show the benefits of what he has learned. At training and in matches he has displayed the sort of maturity and skill that has him earmarked as an elite player.

Although he eased into the AFL last year, this season he has performed a variety of roles that have critics nodding knowingly about his destiny.

He has been a back pocket, a running half-back, a midfielder, even a forward - all part of the learning process. And he is lapping up every challenge - conquering them like a veteran.

This season he has accepted responsibility for curbing the likes of Brett Deledio, Heath Shaw, Chad Cornes, Dale Thomas and Sam Mitchell, some of the most elusive and constructive players in the competition.

Last week he ventured into midfield and kicked three telling goals to put paid to Richmond.

Gibbs, who is receiving specialised coaching and support from champions of the past, such as club games record-holder Craig Bradley and Brownlow medallist Greg "Diesel" Williams, is a natural football talent, not an athlete learning the fundamentals of the game.

"Everything is a learning curve," Gibbs says.

"Even settling in took me six months. Just finding my way around this city, meeting new people, everything."

Any thoughts of home sickness have long past. Doubtless living with football administration manager Shane O'Sullivan has helped.

"I get my cooking and washing done for me, so it is just like home," he says, reminding you of his tender years.

When then-coach Denis Pagan invited him to be part of the leadership group on arrival, he conferred with his parents and seized the opportunity.

There seems little doubt he is captaincy material.

"It was a great opportunity to be part of sessions involving the coaches and the senior players, and I didn't know how long that opportunity would last. So I grabbed it. I didn't say much at all, just listened and took it all in. It was great experience," he says.

When he did have something to say, he "told it like it is" and was frank with his assessments.

Around that time he became friends with another young gun, Marc Murphy, and this season they teamed with the club's third No .1 draft choice, Matthew Kreuzer.

And all have been made to feel welcome by the older brigade, especially Brendan Fevola.

"It is a great mix and I was so welcomed and settled in so well that I had no hesitation in signing for another two years, until 2010. We are a club going places and I want to be part of it," Gibbs said.

Judd, the Brownlow medallist and Carlton skipper, was the perfect addition to the team for Gibbs. The master had arrived to directly and indirectly educate the star apprentice.

"To think that the best player in the competition came to your club is just fantastic," Gibbs says.

"He is great. Everything he does is totally professional. He does everything right, and you learn so much from him in a game and even at training.

"He has been a great example to the young blokes. Just watching him go about things makes you look and learn and you see what it takes to be an elite footballer,"

Gibbs has enjoyed his development as a player as much as the fans have enjoyed watching it.

"Sometimes I have three or four different roles in a match: tagging, running into the midfield or even going forward. I am learning a bit of everything and being flexible is important," he says.

"I'm happy to do anything that will benefit the team, and while I'm doing it I'm gaining experience.

"I must admit I love the midfield and I'm working on my fitness to be more productive there. I would love to spend more time there, but at this stage I am fortunate there are so many rotations that allow me to have a crack."

Gibbs, who played every match last season, has racked up 35 games and is improving at such a rate that he will soon be the hunted instead of the hunter.

He was initially offered a three-year deal when he first signed with Carlton, but opted to take the standard two-year contract.

But he has made a statement about his intentions by extending his contract.

"I first sat down with Mum and Dad, and we decided on just a two-year deal," Gibbs said.

"Moving over from interstate, I didn't know how I'd handle it, being away from home.

"But since I've been over here, the club has been fantastic. The players have made it the easiest and most enjoyable thing.

"It's such a great group of blokes, all pretty young.

"So, when Carlton said, 'would you be interested in looking at another couple of years?', we were always open to the suggestion.

"I'm happy here and can see some pretty exciting things ahead."

And plenty of good judges see Gibbs as among the most exciting

 

[Murph_The_Smurf]

I love this kid since the nab cup i said he will be an absolute star mark my words this kid is something else.... Fab read afrodite

 

[Aphrodite]

I love this kid since the nab cup i said he will be an absolute star mark my words this kid is something else.... Fab read afrodite

Absolutely Smurf ... without a doubt he will be a superstar


I loved this part of the Article ..........

I had no hesitation in signing for another two years, until 2010. We are a club going places and I want to be part of it," Gibbs said.

 

[Murph_The_Smurf]

Absolutely Smurf ... without a doubt he will be a superstar


I loved this part of the Article ..........

Hes definatly made the right choice !!!!!

 

[Aphrodite]

Hes definatly made the right choice !!!!!

He sure has .....

A Brownlow & a Premiership medallion are not too far away in the distant future

 

[thylacine60]

Choice read, Afro-girl.

 

[Aphrodite]

Choice read, Afro-girl.

Now I can't wait until next Friday after reading that article .........

I hope Gibbs burns up the grass at the MCG

and we beat that Rabble of an excuse of an AFL club from Frankston

 

[thylacine60]

Now I can't wait until next Friday after reading that article .........

I hope Gibbs burns up the grass at the MCG

and we beat that Rabble of an excuse of an AFL club from Frankston

You dig it the most, girl!

 

[HBF]

What a great read.
There is just so much to like about Bryce Gibbs, and the fact that we have him at the club until 2010 is just brilliant.

 

[Doza]

At least twice this week I've heard him say that he enjoys the midfield and wants to be in there more. Clearly trying to make it clear that while he is happy to do the "team thing", he wants to be a permanent midfielder.

 

[Poz_Utd_V.2]

I found something funny in the article it says this season he has played on the likes of C.Cornes, Deledio............... Sam Mitchell???????

When did we play Hawthorn this season?

 

[BlueMania]

That was a really good article to read . Pleased that he is happily staying as the younger of my boys has number 4 on his guernsey .

 

[BlueMania]

I found something funny in the article it says this season he has played on the likes of C.Cornes, Deledio............... Sam Mitchell???????

When did we play Hawthorn this season?

Maybe he was referring the NAB cup game , pre season .

 

[Bluebear]

Maybe he was referring the NAB cup game , pre season .

Correct. Played a tagging role on Mitchell and shut him down in our NAB cup disaster vs Hawks.

Bit of a stretch to include that in the article IMO, but there you have it.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

LOL Where is James Fantasia now ? ....

*NA ! ! ! ! re Malaka *

 

[Faz 2000]

16 teams would love to have Bryce Gibbs, but only we have him. Makes me smile.

 

[Beloved]

Gibbsy doesn't have that excitement generate off of him in the amount that say Chris Judd generates, but when he gets the ball, all I can do is stare and wait for him to do something else amazing to shut the football world up, in which he manages to do 3/4.

I love him, plain and simple.