But isnt a player taking him to the goal square and away from the ball and play a form of tagging. Trying to take him away from his strengths. Also taking him to goalsquare stuffs up their forward structures. Port tried it with Motlop and it was a disaster for them. Sure Gibbs wasnt a major influence but with their forward line all over the place they couldnt beat us. Ratts does like to put him on a half forward like Chapman or a good player like deledio or goodes so he stays where the play is. Good teams take on the challenge rather than change things up to take himfrom the ball. Average teams try to make it up on the spot and try take him to the goalsquare. We beat those teams. With Walker and Bower all in the team we will get more run and coaches wont know who to try and take to the goalsquare.
I like Gibbs moving up the ground into play late in games when the other mids on the ground begin to tire. He has played some smashing last quarters over the last few years. Still like him as a get on - get off HBF though.

I'm just wondering how much time he has actually spent in a BP Virgin?

Was it when he was doing the run with roles on Lids and Goddard, when he was playing on the high forwards in Knights and Chapman, perhaps it was when he was part of the midfield rotation against the Lions and Bombers? He spent half of both the Pies and Hawks games as part of the midfield rotation. Even against Port he still played high at times. Gibbsy has played a number of roles.

All teams try to drag a play making defender deep or play through them, but in reality I think you must have a pretty low tolerance level, because I don't think that Gibbs has actually spent much time in a back pocket IMO

That has been a big plus Our ball use coming out of our back half has been very poor at times over the years and coupled with JR's improvement, Gibbs has been instrumental in making us more assured down there IMO. (when he has played there that is)

Well he hadn't really started playing as a defender until the Cats game and I think in possibly the last two weeks (Port and Hawthorn) the opposition have started dragging him back to the square. Let's see what happens this week.

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Gibbs is a much better defender than Scotland and is also a good size so it is much harder to exploit him as they have done to Scottie in the past. A number of teams have tried to drag him back to the goal square, but for the most part I think they have actually been unsuccessful and I would much prefer them trying to do it to Gibbsy than Scottie IMO

Yeah nah mate With Judd back he has spent less time as part of the midfield rotation. Played on Knights down back in the Crows game. I do agree that Port and the Hawks were better at curbing his influence though.

How is he not having influence on games? I would have thought moving the ball out of the backline effectively was pretty important. It's not as if he is being asked to play totally negating roles such as AJ does. He has had some good duals with some of the better high forwards.

I agree I really like the idea of Gibbs as a midfielder/forward Which is why I don't mind him learning the role playing on a Chapman for example. Chapman did try to drag him back to the square at times, but they couldn't do it too much as then where do you position Hawkins, Pods and Mooney. They couldn't have them playing too high as it mucks up their whole team balance.

If it doesn't really matter where he plays and we have had some pretty good results with him playing down back why move him then?

As Club has pointed out trying to drag Gibbs back to the lastline is a sign opposition coaches are worrying about him. Disrupting your forward structure to try and exploit Gibbsy, especially when he hasn't had a bag kicked against him (as yet ) isn't the end of the world. I think Scotland has being doing a good job as a midfielder and Gibbs is much better down back than he is. As a team we win in that exchange. If Gibbs was just doing a totally negating role or just chasing cheap kicks I would agree with you re development, but he certainly seems to be playing a balanced and varied role to me. They also started Rooke on Gibbs in the second half against the Cats to try and negate him. Didn't last long.

Gibbs wasn't tagged when he was part of the midfield rotation against the Lions or Bombers, so do you think that that means the opposition don't worry about him?


At the moment I'm not sure Grigga is a better option delivering the ball off halfback, so I'm not sure where you are going there. Was Shaw playing half forward?

Has Goddard playing a number of roles hurt him?

By his own admission, he rates himself 6/10 this year. By his own admission, he said that he needs to increase his output. ATM he is just another player in the side. Whether its him or the role, I dont give a flying firetruck. We need more value out of him. Right now there are at least 7 other blokes who would upset our structures more if/when we lost them (Judd, Simpson, Murphy, Waite, Bower, Jamison, Joseph, Russell, Kruezer)

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If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

Come on 99 be fair. We beat Geelong without both Bower and Waite for a start; strange logic. I'm sure a few of those guys you mentioned would rate their seasons 6/10 or worse, as they and Gibbs should considering the poor performances against the Bombers, Hawks and Pies. I'm sure Murph would have liked to have played better in our good wins over the Cats and Saints. To be honest I'm not sure what criteria or evidence you are using to justify the broad sweeping statement you have made.

I would be disappointed if Gibbs didn't say he has room for improvement, but saying he isn't important to our structure is a bit over the top considering the variety of roles he has played and the versatility he gives to the team.

I hope that you weren't one of the ones complaining about how poor our ball use has been coming out of the back half

Spot on B. I havent really seen the tactic of dragging Gibbs back to the goalsquare as a game changing tactic. I reckon it backfired on Port stuffing their forward line up also.

Glad Ratts doesnt panic when they do it and move GIBBS. If Gibbs can learn to beat them as a full back or back pocket as well we will be a better team yet again. If Russ or Walker or Lucas can then fill GIbbs' spot at halfback then the whole tactic will be shelved by opposition coaches.

Maybe he was told he was playing in defence until he signed a new contract and then he could go back to midfield

Good game by Gibbs. Got to kick a goal and pumped it inside fifty a few times. They even tried dragging him back at times but couldnt stop the us rebounding off halfback ! If it wasnt gibbs it was walker or Russ.

They even tried a defensive forward on him. It seems that Worsfold made the mistake of actually rating Gibbsy

30 of his immaculate disposals were through the midfield!! We love it!!

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What you talking about Willis? (thought it was appropriate with the little bloke going down)

LOL, that was the breakdown of disposals from yesterday. 30 through the middle, 13 in defence and one legendary goal. BTW I'm you've sort of won me over with your opinion on this so I'm not having a crack, you make some good points. Does anyone know who Bryce was on on where he was starting?

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You want the flame? Give us the marbles!!

I didn't think you were having a crack mate, just wasn't sure where you were coming from The way the game is now played your defenders do get a number of possies up the ground, especially the flankers and loosies. Which is why the op back pocket stuff was a bit off IMO.

No, I cant stand seeing Gibbs, playing this BS Nathan Buckly role, especially when he kicked six for Glenelg when he was 16 from HFF.

Our back six has never really settled due to injury.

White Jamison Joseph

Scotland Bower Lucas

Walker McLean Russell

Gibbs Henderson Yarran

Garlett Irish Waite

Kruezer, Judd, Murphy

Simpson, Houlihan, Warnock, Armfield

Carazzo, Betts, Hadley

Scotland and Walker on notice as they can turn it over a little often