New Adelaide midfielder Bryce Gibbs is a strong supporter of player movement in the AFL industry, as he says players should be afforded the flexibility to switch clubs if they want to.
Gibbs finally found his way to the Crows in last year’s trade period, after a request to move to the South Australian club was blocked by Carlton in 2016.
The 28-year-old was contracted to the Blues for a further two seasons before the defection, another indication that the meaning of a contract seems to be dwindling in the modern game.
Gibbs concedes his commitment to his former club may have complicated things, and reckons shorter-term deals could be the way forward for players, to avoid them being locked into an awkward situation.
“I am all for it,” he told SEN Breakfast about player movement.
“Things change in life, and the hard thing for me was, I did have a long term contract.
“Maybe shorter term contracts as you get older are the way to go, as things in footy and life change.
“I am certainly all for player movement, and as things change in your life, your thinking changes and you want to pursue and do different things at times.
“Having that flexibility as a player is really important and I don’t think it is going anywhere. We have to deal with it as an industry.”
After losing stars Jake Lever, Patrick Dangerfield, Charlie Cameron among others over the past few seasons, Crows fans face another nervous wait with Rory Sloane out of contract at the end of 2018.
There has been no indication Sloane will stay in Adelaide, and despite being engulfed in the middle of rumour and innuendo last year, Gibbs says he won’t offer his fellow teammate much advice about his future, as he doesn’t think he’ll need it.
“He (Sloane) has some decisions to make this year, and I went through it,” he said.
“I won’t tell him too much, he is the ultimate professional from what I have seen so far.
“The way he goes about his training, his leadership is second to none.
“I don’t think it’s going to affect his footy or training or anything like that. I think he will take it all in his stride.
“The sort of person he is, he will be fine with it.”
Gibbs also backed incumbent skipper Taylor Walker to keep the captaincy, saying he has been really “impressed” with the attitude he has brought to preseason.
The 2014 Blues best-and-fairest winner will debut for the Crows on Sunday in the JLT Community Series.
The runners-up have named a strong side for the preseason hit-out against Fremantle, with Rory Laird, Josh Jenkins, Rory Atkins, Sam Jacobs and Matt Crouch all set to take the park.
Gibbs averaged 26.8 disposals and 5.9 tackles for Carlton last season. The Crows’ 2018 campaign begins on Friday March 23 against Essendon.
Listen to Bryce Gibbs’ chat with Garry Lyon and Tim Watson on SEN Breakfast in the player below!