Bryce Gibbs: Deck of Dream Team 2011

Name: Bryce Gibbs
Club: Carlton
Position: Midfielder/ Defender
Bye Rounds: 8 & 23
2010 Average: 96.4
2010 Games Played: 22
Predicted Average: 110

Why should I pick him? Bryce had his first breakout year in 2008 (87 Av.), which was his second year of AFL footy.  In his traditional breakout year of 2009 he exploded! finishing the year with an average of 107. Last year, Brett Ratten decided to play him as a defender/ tagger, which dropped his average and took every ounce of his talent to average a respectable 97. As much as this move frustrated me last year, it will now be a massive bonus as Gibbsy will be eligible to be selected as a defender, yet spend most of the year in the midfield. Gibbs is a massive talent and will be knocking on the All Australian door for the next 8 years, however this will be our last chance to sneak him into the backline. How good will it be being able to interchange Gibbs, Goddard and Deledio through the def- mid positions?! Gibbs will this year stamp his authority as an elite player and DTer with a 110+ average and potential captain throughout the year.

Why shouldn’t I pick him? Any role Bryce is given he will do well and hence, he played really well as a defender last year. So there has to be a concern that Ratten will want him to do it again. Although Gibbs has been very upfront about wanting to play in the mids, the coach has the final say. Every time the Blues play Sydney, Gibbsy ends up tagging Goodes, so there will most likely be times where a defensive mindset is certain. When this type of role is against a running player like Goodes, Gibbs still manages to push out 100 point scores, but it is the forward tags we need to be warey of, as he has a history of being like Shane Watson and pulling stumps after 50.

Deck of DT Rating. KING – Bryce will be on of the most selected DTers this year. Even if he was just a mid I would be selecting him as coaches are guaranteed improvement into the elite bracket. Last year he said that he wanted to base his game on that of Goddard, well Bryce, you will have no complaints from the destROY coaching staff there. Locked and loaded. Ps. You’re my boy Bryce!