Gibbs aint the gun midfielder everyone wants him to be.So what ! One of our greatest ,Bruce Doull rarely went into the guts.Guess what ? he was a half back flanker who specialized in keeping opposition gun players in check.Gibbs is our modern day Bruce Doull.And that i can live with.He just kneeds everyone to eff off out of his head and let him get on with his own game.Gibbs is a quiet achiever.Talent to burn.

PS.................good way to crank start Gibbs would be to line him up on Dangerfield.I reckon Gibbs will slaughter him.

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All my dangerous friends

I think part of the issue with Gibbs is that he's been asked to play the role of spare man in defence. He does that ok, but not brilliantly, but it also means that without an opponent, he slips into cruise mode a bit. Although he can be had at the ball, it's not an automatic default approach for him, and playing loose lulls him into outside football.

Gibbs for me has played his best in 2 different roles: as a run with player, and right in the guts. He has played games in the middle where his contested footy and clearance work was outstanding, as good as any in the team (that first year he polled well in the Brownlow, those votes came playing midfield).

Right now, without Carazzo, we may need him at times to play run with roles, and without Laidler, across half back, but I would ultimately like to see him playing permanently on ball. Ratten should throw him the challenge - you are our number one clearance winner...we are looking to you to feed the ball out, then run and spread to the next contest, or outside. Hard at it, every contest, running hard, every contest. He can do it, he has the skills and ability, he needs to be thrown the challenge. I think he'll thrive on that, and take the next step Ratten predicted pre-season.

This will also release Judd more, who needs to get a better balance of outside-inside into his game if we are to be a real Premiership threat. He was playing more outside in the first 3 weeks, but that has disappeared since Carazzo went down and we needed him in the clinches more, and we are missing his run. Also, getting Judd outside more is going to help him in the final years of his career. The more outside he can play, the longer his career is likely to go.

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Mens sana in corpore sano.

Bring back the laurel wreath logo!!!

Mick...with respect, you know as well as I that those two names don't go together in the same sentence. I can see where you, and the coaching staff are coming from - the Luke Hodge scenario of having your most skilled player playing across half-back - but Hodge (when fit) plays a vastly superior role to that of Gibbs. He plays tall, makes the contest to help defenders, throws his body in and becomes an extra mid at defensive stoppages and marshals troops brilliantly. Hodge controls space and structures and is the ultimate team player. Luke Hodge is the modern day Bruce Doull. We can only hope Gibbs plays that role if he continues the half-back role going forward. But I doubt it's in his DNA.

We're repeatedly told by the coaching staff that they 'ask a lot of Bryce Gibbs'...but the role he plays currently isn't asking much of him. I have to wonder if it's Gibbs' captain and not his coach who decides where he is of most benefit to the club. Methinks Chris Judd controls the midfield tactics a lot more than any of us will ever know. If so, that doesn't bode well for Gibbs' hope of playing more in the middle.

I understand the analogy Michstar...and I agree...and I can see you didn't even mention when using the name Doull the HB role either. ie you are not pigeon holing Gibbs (as a mid of HBF), and just stating the obvious.

What you do state is that "Gibbs is a quiet achiever" with "talent to burn".
You show a lot of respect for the kid. Good on you.

What isn't quoted by the Gibbs detractors (and that's what they are imo) is that Judd too believes and has stated in the media that Gibbs is the most super talented player in the squad. It's OK if he isn't the best, second best or third best..after all we have a few No 1 picks and first rounders in the squad, but what he is is one hell of a valuable player on our list.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Completely agree. This should help a bit.

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

And with respect to you Doc,i didnt say he was as good as Doull,i just meant that he plays the Doull role of shutting down opposition guns................

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All my dangerous friends

I'm disagreeing with you. He's not shutting down anyone playing this role. I thought his development was better served when he was given the run-with roles (Goodes etc) and was being led to the right spots (where the ball was).

Got no trouble with posters bagging Gibbs Bondi......shit,i cant talk,i thought Doull was ordinary when he started.................so i ainnt no expert.reckon that nonchalant style fooled me with Doull,just like so many posters reckon Gibbs is in second gear.Reckon the casualness belies that trapdoor mind just waiting to pounce.

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All my dangerous friends

And with respect to you again Doc,im not arguing with you and in fact agreeing with you.Gibbs has the ability to shut down absolute guns of the game such as Goodes as you have pointed out.People on this sight are raving about Dangerfield who is pretty good .Reckon if Gibbs plays on him tomorrow he will slaughter Dangerfield.

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All my dangerous friends

Give him Carrazzo's job

Get gets a stopping/runwith role and gets to play in the guts

Everybody happy...

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“I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” ― Richard Feynman

Sakc GIBBS

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

Bingo.

And we can say he plays a dangerous smothering tagger role who can hurt you the other way.

Seriously, I just hope lives up to the No 1 pick.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Could not agree more. The run with role for Gibbsy is the ideal job for him currently.

big call that Doc..... the great man (the Juddster) believes Mr Gibbs has the talent to be the best midfielder at the club

Jack Watts is playing Gibbs role better at present.

..Gibbs being some extra special talent at shutting down opponents is more myth than fact.. ..he had 1 excellent game on a blatantly obvious unfit Goodes.. ..we tried the same thing the following match and a fit Goodes took him to the cleaners.. ..and yet somehow that match vs an unfit Goodes keeps getting hyped up.. ..Gibbs is a creative half forward, playing a reactive role across half back..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

At least Gibbs is nowhere near as bad as this former number 1.

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"He was found guilty in June 2008 of assault with intent to cause bodily harm, an offence which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years jail."
And people are making his return to footy somewhat of a fairytale?

Maybe they can have a frock off this Sunday, and compare who's dress is better....

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James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS

Gibbs is a gun footballer who is being nailed down by a shit footy coach.
Actually, if this is all the imagination this coach has and this coach survives another year... i hope Gibbs leaves the club for his own sake.

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