Bryce Gibbs will play his final AFL game this Sunday when Adelaide meets his former club Carlton.
The 31-year-old has called time on his career after 14 years and what will be his 268th game when the Crows and Blues face off at Metricon Stadium.
Since his move to Adelaide prior to the 2018 season, things have not quite worked out for Gibbs, which is something he admits contributed to his decision to call it quits on a fabulous career.
“Football at AFL level has been such a big part of my life to this point,” he said on SEN SA Breakfast.
“To go through it with so many special people in my life that when it was going to come to an end it was always going to be an emotional day.
“It all sort of unfolded pretty quickly. I was still pretty determined to force my way back into the side and be a pivotal player finishing off the year. It didn’t pan out that way and it was only in the last week or so that I got my head around that this was going to be it for me.
“Once I started putting those wheels in motion it all finished pretty quick, but I’m certainly very comfortable with how I came to the decision and where it’s at.”
The classy and humble Gibbs was asked if it was the club or himself who put forward the option of retirement.
He acknowledges that Matthew Nicks and his coaching staff were looking to take a different path, other than a 31-year-old who was approaching the twilight of his playing days, which helped him make the call.
“It was more me,” he added.
“As I said, I was still pretty determined to get back in the side and help the boys and the club in what’s been a tough year for us.
“Mentally it started to wear me down, not so much the last 12 months, but probably 18 months going back to last year with some of the frustrations in and out of the side that I had.
“I did think I would have got a bit more opportunity this year but that wasn’t to be. As the weeks rolled on, it just kept mentally wearing me down.
“Speaking with Nicksy and the club, our conversations had been pretty open and honest over the last 12 months. Next year was going to look pretty similar in that they wanted to keep playing young guys, regenerating their list and getting some younger boys in.
“To think that I would have had to go another 12 months potentially with a lack of opportunity was something I didn’t think I could do. To free a spot up on the list for a young guy who is currently on the list now and to save their career for next year or to blood a young kid next year, which I got to experience 14 years ago.
“With list sizes potentially coming down, that filled me with a lot of joy and it was something I was really comfortable to do.”
The former number one draft pick and Carlton best and fairest says he already looks back on his career with extreme pride and great fondness despite the past few years not going the way he would have liked.
“It’s hard because in recent times there’s been a lot of speculation and a lot of talk on the way it’s ended,” he said.
“I don’t want my career to be justified for how it’s panned out the last two years. I’ve had an amazing career over 14 years and one that I’m very proud of.
“People lose sight of that at times.
“If I look at it as a whole, I’m certainly very proud of what I’ve achieved and have been very grateful and fortunate to be able to do what not many people get to do and live out a childhood dream.
“I’m very proud of that.”
Looking forward to 2021, Gibbs says he’d love to pull on the boots yet again, whether it be in the SANFL with Glenelg where his father Ross played 250 games, or at local level.
“Yeah, that would be something special,” he said of potentially suiting up for the Bays.
“I do think I will play footy next year. My body’s held up pretty well over the last couple of years and I still feel like I can play some good footy.
“Whether that’s at SANFL level, country level, local level, I’m not too sure yet. I’ve got one more game to go with the Crows so once the dust settles I’ll start getting my head around it.
“But I’d love to continue playing footy next year at some sort of level.”
Gibbs will end his AFL career on 268 games after 231 with the Blues with his swansong against his old club this weekend being his 37th outing for the Crows.