I believe both crouches will develop and will go a long way this coming year, last year they both improved three fold, so do we need to recruit Gibbs or put faith into what we have
Exactly. The question for AFC is will both crouches stand up so you don't need Gibbs to win a flag. Or, how much are your chances improved if you bring Gibbs in, particularly with the stand-up bros.
As for Carlton and Gibbs yes he doesn't have to leave is contracted but has clearly stated he wants to live in Adelaide
The question mark for you is Brett boltons reaction to this, having a player that doesn't want to be there his philosophies seem non negotiable
The philosophy you ascribe to Bolton was actually in place at CFC before he was appointed on 25.08.15. Henderson was denied a place in the team for the last 3 matches as a result. IMO CFC were wrong and disrespectful to approach LH in that way and I hope Bolton would not treat a listed player in that way.
As to the philosophy itself, it is obviously NOT non-negotiable but must depend on all the circumstances. Were GWS wrong to stand up to McCarthy and send a message to the list that they were not going to be bent over just because a player went home? Dills will say they were because they got less for him this year than last and lost him for this year anyway. But if that loss was the price paid for the message to contracted players "stand out of footy for a year if you want to walk" it will have long term benefits we can never gauge.
Was Richmond wrong to deny Wayne Campbell a transfer to the doggies only to see him become Capt the next year? Hardly (and it is the mistake-riddled RFC I am talking about).
In the case of Gibbs, there is no suggestion he has any problem with the CFC. He just wants to go home for understandable family reasons. The same reasons that will make him all the more determined to perform as well as he can in the next 3 years whereever he plays.