Bryce Gibbs Biography

Adelaide chairman John Olsen and CEO Tim Silvers issue a fresh apology to players affected by the infamous 2018 camp following public statements of by Eddie Betts, Josh Jenkins and Bryce Gibbs.

"It has been confronting to hear Eddie Betts and Josh Jenkins describe their experiences during the 2018 pre-season training camp on the Gold Coast, as well as the subsequent hurt they have carried," Olsen and Silvers said in an open letter.

"We apologise to Eddie, Josh and any other player, coach or staff member, who had a negative experience during this time.

"Equally, we are sorry to hear Bryce Gibbs express his disappointment at the way in which the camp and events surrounding it were handled and its impact on the playing group, and we acknowledge there are others who may feel the same way."

Bryce Gibbs takes out the SANFL's highest individual honour, being named joint winner of the 2021 Magarey Medal.

Gibbs, who joined South Adelaide after calling time on his AFL career in 2020, and Woodville-West Torrens' James Tsitas each polled 21 votes.

Adelaide selects Bryce Gibbs in the 2020 Rookie Draft purely for administrative purposes.

"It's more of an administrative thing for Bryce to come on now under AFL rules, TPP. He will come on now and then in the new year he will go back off the list and retire, as he already had retired. And that will free up a spot for the SSP period," Adelaide recruiting manager Hamish Ogilvie explained.

Bryce Gibbs will play his final AFL game against his former club Carlton after informing his teammates of his decision to retire and reportedly coming to a settlement to cease the final year of his contract for 2021.

New Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks has flagged a positional switch for 265-game veteran Bryce Gibbs who struggled to hold down a regular spot in the Crows' senior side in 2019.

"We've had that conversation about … what can we do to allow you to play that style of footy you need to play," Nicks said.

"Whether that was in and around the footy as much as we could get him in there, but he also knows that a half-back position is somewhere that may suit him where he's actually at with his game at the moment.

"He's a super player. It's a matter of us helping him in that space and where he can play his best footy."

Adelaide coach Don Pyke insists veteran Bryce Gibbs still has plenty to offer despite his horror form slump which has led to his fourth axing from the senior side in 2019.

"He's a quality player, that's why we got him to the footy club. He's having a bit of a rough patch at the moment, but he'll come out the other side," Pyke said.

"Of all the people who are disappointed, he's at the top of the queue. He understands and he had an opportunity last week.

"He didn't grab it and now he knows he has to go back (to the SANFL) and work hard and double down to get himself another chance."

Adelaide midfield coach Michael Godden expects Bryce Gibbs to remain at the club despite being dropped for the third time this season.

"We've been very clear with Bryce and he's been exceptional in the way he's accepted part of the responsibility as well of where he sits," Godden said.

"I would have no hesitancy to say that Bryce would want to be around."

Out-of-favour Adelaide midfielder Bryce Gibbs admits he was at odds with the Crows match committee about getting dropped and had strong conversations with coach Don Pyke.

But after venting his frustrations and getting a few things off his chest, the 30-year-old says he's more determined than ever to reclaim his spot in the side.

"I questioned some of the decisions match committee made and it was a little bit confronting at times, but that's the way it goes," Gibbs said.

"It's important to talk through those things and vent a little bit and get a few things off your chest because you are going to be disappointed.

"Although the conversations can be hard and they're not easy to have, they're important to have. And once you have them, you feel a lot better."

Adelaide coach Don Pyke says the team needs greater consistency from Bryce Gibbs after he was dropped for a second time this year.

"We have a guy we know is a really talented player that can play some good footy for us, but we need him to play good footy consistently in all the areas of our game," Pyke said.

"At the moment, he's not doing that consistently. I've had conversations with him, he's frustrated and he's disappointed.

"Some of the things he did last week we were really happy with, but the difference of doing it eight or nine times out of 10, and doing it four or five in the other areas, is the gap at the moment."

Bryce Gibbs admits to being shocked at being dumped to the SANFL.

"It was probably just my form over the first three games that was a little bit patchy and I probably wasn't playing my role to the level that was required," Gibbs said.

"No-one likes getting dropped from the side and I was no different. But it was a decision I had to accept and had to move on from, and I've just got to go back and do what they ask and hopefully find myself back in the side this week, and if not this week, hopefully in the next couple of weeks."

Adelaide makes a statement in the wake of its slow start to the 2019 season, dropping Bryce Gibbs for the club's clash against North Melbourne.

Gibbs collected 27 disposals in the Crows' loss to Geelong, with the Crows having recorded just one win in the first three rounds.

One game into his Adelaide career and Bryce Gibbs is already marvelling at teammate Matt Crouch's ability to get his hands on the Sherrin.

Crouch carried on his tremendous form of last year with 36 possessions in the Crows' 10-point win against Fremantle in the JLT Community Series game at Strathalbyn Oval.

"Halfway through the second quarter when I was on the bench, I turned to Pykey (coach Don Pyke) and said, 'Geez, Matty Crouch can find the ball'," Gibbs said.

"I already knew he could do that, but sitting here and playing here and watching him, he's impressive."

Sam Jacobs says he is happy to be reunited with former Blues teammate Bryce Gibbs who recently joined the Crows.

"This is my eighth year here, so it's taken eight years to get him across," Jacobs said.

"He's a really versatile player and it's exciting to have him here and play with him again."

Bryce Gibbs says the birth of his son Charlie forced him to re-evaluate what was important in his life and it was his desire to be closer to family that was behind move to Adelaide.

"When I signed that five-year contract I certainly had no intentions of coming back to Adelaide," Gibbs said.

"Me and my fiancee (Lauren) are both from Adelaide but we were very happy in Melbourne, we loved the club and the lifestyle there.

"But when the little fella (Charlie) came along your mindset, your outlook, changes. Suddenly it wasn't about us anymore, it was about him … and our families.

"During the first two years of raising Charlie we decided that if it was possible for us to get back to Adelaide we would try to do it.

"Last year we attempted it but it didn’t happen. This year it worked out."

Crows recruit Bryce Gibbs says he aims to make a strong first impression at the club.

"It's about earning the respect of the playing group, coming from another club, so it's head down, bum up, train hard," Gibbs said.

"I've played over 200 games, but I'm certainly not entitled to anything at this footy club in terms of a spot in the side."

Bryce Gibbs is a Crow after Carlton and Adelaide put a last-minute misunderstanding behind them to finally sign off on a deal that's been more than a year in the making.

Under the deal, Carlton received pick Nos.10, 16, and 73 in this year's draft and the Crows' 2018 second-round pick.

Adelaide received Gibbs, No.77 and Carlton's 2018 second-round and third-round picks.

An emotional Bryce Gibbs opens up on his move to Adelaide after 11 years as a Blue.

"You can prepare as much as you want for the moment to happen, but the closer it gets and the more of a reality it turns into, it certainly got a lot harder for me," Gibbs said.

"Once it was a done deal, it sort of hit home a little bit and I usually don't get too emotional, but it pulled on a couple of heart strings and it was all a reality."

Gibbs made a series of difficult phone calls to Blues teammates after the trade went through.

"As disappointed as they were, they were the first to pass on congratulations and support and wish me all the best for my future," Gibbs said.

"It's a friendship I've built over the last 11 years with a lot of guys (and) a friendship I'll cherish forever – and not only players, but staff, support staff, even members and fans."

Carlton football manager Andrew McKay says Bryce Gibbs will remain at Carlton in 2018.

"He hasn't requested anything as yet and he's a contracted player for another couple of years, so we expect him to be with us for that period," McKay said.

Adelaide list manager Justin Reid says the Crows will not be a making a bid for Bryce Gibbs in 2017 as it did in 2016.

"Bryce is a contracted player so respectfully, I think he's happy where he is, so we'll all move on," Reid said.

Carlton is adamant Bryce Gibbs will remain at the club in 2018.

"He's contracted for another couple of years, so we’re hoping and expecting that he'll be with us for those couple of years," Carlton’s Head of Football Andrew McKay said.

"The bottom line is he loves Carlton, he’s a Carlton man, so we’d expect him to be going around next year for us."

Bryce Gibbs says he believes he will be a Blue in 2018 after requesting a trade which fell through in 2016.

"As far as I know I'll be there," Gibbs said.

"We've had a great year, a really big learning year and taken a lot of steps forward and I'm looking forward to continuing that on next year."

Despite Bryce Gibbs seeking a trade to Adelaide at the end of 2016, Carlton CEO Steven Trigg is confident the midfielder will fulfil his contract at the Blues.

"He's contracted for two more years at the end of this year (and) he's happy," Trigg said.

"I think part of that's reflected, as you can see, in the way that he's playing.

"We don't detect the personal issues that led to that issue arising last summer.

"I can sit here quite confidently and say that he's a Carlton player next year."

At the age of 30, Dennis Armfield has been added to Carlton's leadership group for the first time, taking the spot of the retired Andrew Walker.

Marc Murphy has retained the captaincy at the Blues with veteran defender Kade Simpson the vice-captain for the third year overall.

Patrick Cripps, Sam Docherty, Bryce Gibbs and Ed Curnow round out the seven-player leadership group.

"In 2016, we set about building leadership density across our list. This year, we are sticking to the roadmap and ensuring there is a consistent level of leadership across the board," Blues coach Brendon Bolton said.

"With only one change to our leadership group for 2017, we are building on the foundations that were set last season."

Carlton players had no hesitation re-electing Bryce Gibbs to the club's leadership group despite his unsuccessful request for a trade to Adelaide.

"As soon as he rocked up day one of pre-season he was here as a Carlton player, really passionate about the club, really hard-working," Blues teammate Dennis Armfield said of Gibbs.

"He's probably been one of the best on the track, so there was no doubt in my mind or the players' minds or the team's mind that he was going to be a leader of this club."

Bryce Gibbs says he had contemplated moving back to Adelaide for over a year.

"It was a couple of reasons. A bit to do with family. We've got a young one at home, and as all families know, that can be pretty testing at times," Gibbs said.

"I've got a few things going on in my life that I'm going through as well, so we just thought for where we are right now as a family, that we wanted to be around close family and friends, and if a trade happened, we thought that was the best move for us as a family right now."

Gibbs says the criticism leveled at his partner Lauren through social media was unfair.

"She was copping all sorts of stick — [the suggestion] that she couldn't handle being a young mum, when actually, she's been a star and handled it really well," Gibbs said.

"It's probably the first time I've seen her a bit edgy and wanting to bite back at a few things on social media, usually she's pretty calm and collected."

Despite the trade request, Gibbs says there has been no issues with Carlton since the trade fell through.

"Through the whole process, there's been open and honest dialogue from me to the club and from the club back, and when it's like that, everyone's on the same page, and whatever it comes to, both parties know exactly what's going on and how to handle it, everyone's happy," Gibbs said.

"When it came to me staying, there were phone calls straight away, catch-ups, and it was, 'Righto, back to business as usual'."

Blues skipper Marc Murphy insists star Carlton teammate Bryce Gibbs is "in a really great space" despite his failed bid to return home to Adelaide during the NAB AFL Trade Period.

"I spent a fair bit of time with Bryce in the off-season – especially after the Trade Period – and I think it was a really good chance for him to be away with his mates and have a really good chat about things," Murphy said.

"He's an ultimate professional, Gibbsy, he's been around for 10 years now, played some really good footy for the club and I'm sure he'll get back to those levels – if not go higher – again next year.

"He's a tremendous footballer and person, and he loves the footy club and the footy club love him, so we're rapt to have Gibbsy still with us."

Blues CEO Steven Trigg says that Bryce Gibbs may not have received his wish to be sent to Adelaide but there will be no issues when he returns to Ikon Park.

"He has consistently said he loves Carlton and the move was more about the city, as in where his home is. It wasn’t about Carlton," Trigg said.

"He has the ability to slip straight back in effectively and with all the leadership he has always shown. I don’t see any of that being diminished."

Bryce Gibbs' father says his son could still play for Adelaide one day after a proposed trade for the homesick midfielder fell through.

"The Crows have had a couple of cracks at Bryce before and haven't quite got it right and they went harder this time so there was genuine hope that he would be able to come home," Bryce's father Ross said.

"But we're a footballing family and know the rules. Obviously we're disappointed that something couldn't be done but Bryce is a contracted player and he'll have to honour that contract.

"Carlton stuck to their guns and the Crows' window of opportunity didn't work out so we all move on. One day it might be a different story."

Carlton insists it was willing to trade wantaway star Bryce Gibbs to Adelaide for "the right price", but is now confident Gibbs will see out the final three years of his contract.

The Crows were seething when they couldn't reach agreement with the Blues on a deal for Gibbs on the final day of the NAB AFL Trade Period.

The Crows claimed the Blues were "unrealistic" in asking for two first-round draft picks or a combination of senior players as compensation for the 27-year-old who has played 209 games.

"We obviously value Bryce more highly than they do," Carlton's general manager of football Andrew McKay said.

"It wasn't a matter of us mucking them around at all, we were prepared to let Bryce go for the right price."

Adelaide has vented its anger at Carlton after failing to negotiate a trade for wantaway star Bryce Gibbs.

The Crows claimed the Blues wanted two first-round draft picks for the 27-year-old, who is contracted with Carlton until the end of 2019.

The Blues reportedly turned down an offer of Adelaide's first-round pick this year, currently No.13 overall, and a third-round pick next year, while several players were also discussed.

"The Adelaide Crows were not prepared to meet Carlton’s unrealistic demands in a trade for Bryce Gibbs," the club said in a statement.

"Officials from both clubs met several times in recent days and ultimately could not come to an agreement."

Crows general manager list management and strategy Justin Reid said his club's offer for Gibbs was fair and reasonable based on other deals that occurred.

"Going into the trade period, we had a strategy of going into the draft. At the eleventh minute, we had Bryce and his management approach us," Reid said.

"It would've been irresponsible if we didn't actually try to engage and look at that strongly.

"At the end of the day, two round-one draft picks was pretty unrealistic and pretty irresponsible list management if we were to entertain that."

Bryce Gibbs informs Carlton that he wants to return home to South Australia, with Adelaide the frontrunners for his services.

"Bryce and his management have spoken to the Adelaide Football Club and he's got a strong desire to come home," Crows list manager Justin Reid said.

"We also respect that he's a Carlton player, he's contracted so we'll leave it at that for the meantime."

Carlton coach Brendon Bolton has praised the leadership of stars Bryce Gibbs and Patrick Cripps in 2016.

"They're carrying a fair load in there no doubt," Bolton said.

"We want to be a team in time, as we build our list, that has more depth in the midfield, so they've had to shoulder a fair burden. To their credit, they haven't taken a backward step.

"These guys have been in the midfield on their own grinding away and we need to continue to build depth in that area because it's hard to play four quarters every game of the year but they've kept fighting those lads, they've been good leaders."

Marc Murphy is reappointed as Carlton captain for 2016, but the Blues have overhauled their leadership group with the skipper and Bryce Gibbs the only survivors from the 2015 line-up.

In the new-look team, veteran Kade Simpson will take over as sole vice-captain from Murphy's 2015 joint deputies Bryce Gibbs and Michael Jamison.

Youngsters Patrick Cripps, 20, and Sam Docherty, 22, are among five additions to the 2016 group, as the Blues' next generation of leaders begins to emerge.

Hard-running midfielder Ed Curnow, 26, also joins the leadership team for the first time, while former members Simpson, 31, and Andrew Walker, 29, return after one-year absences.

Walker said Murphy had always loomed as the logical captaincy choice.

"After the tough year that we had and the amount of scrutiny that he copped I think the natural thing would have been for somebody to go into their shell," Walker said.

"But he has always stood up and really been at the forefront for the Carlton footy club. He copped a lot of scrutiny, but I think the way he was able to come out of it and the amount of confidence he's still got to lead the footy club is going to be great for us going forward."

Bryce Gibbs says he is hungry to bounce back from a 2015 season he says was one of the most challenging of his career.

In 2014, after moving into the midfield full-time, Gibbs enjoyed a career-best season, averaging nearly 25 possessions a game and kicking 18 goals to win his first Carlton best and fairest award.

However, the South Australian could not reach those same levels in 2015, with injury largely to blame.

"(Last season) was one of my more challenging years since I've been at the club, personally and as a team," Gibbs said.

"It was the first injury I've ever had that required major surgery, so to spend an extended period on the sidelines was pretty tough for me. It was new to me and I probably didn't handle it quite as well as I thought I would.

"I had a pretty good run up until then, so I was bound to cop some sort of bad injury at some stage, but I'm glad it's all behind me now and I can move on to having a bigger 2016."

Bryce Gibbs is ruled out for the season after he suffered a serious pectoral injury against Richmond.

Gibbs will undergo surgery after tearing his left pectoral muscle during the third quarter of the Blues' loss to the Tigers.

Carlton's head of football Andrew McKay said the surgery would ensure Gibbs made a full recovery.

"If we let Bryce's injury heal naturally, he would have still been out for up to eight weeks and could have risked further damage," McKay said.

"By having the procedure now it will ensure Bryce is fully recovered and ready to go for the start of the pre-season.

"Obviously he is clearly disappointed that his season is over, but what this does do is give some of our younger players an opportunity to put their hand up for selection."

The Match Review Panel should have penalised Jay Schulz's sling tackle on Ted Richards in the same way it did Bryce Gibbs' tackle on Robbie Gray, AFL football operations manager Mark Evans says.

Evans met with MRP members on Monday to discuss the guidelines relating to rough tackles, when he instructed them that when (a) a player's arms were pinned in a tackle and (b) he was taken to ground with force they had to be "far more protective" of the player's head.

Evans told reporters on Monday evening the MRP decision to clear Schulz's tackle had erroneously focused on the differences between it and Gibbs' round 12 tackle that attracted a two-week penalty for rough conduct.

Upon releasing its verdict, the MRP said of Schulz's round 14 tackle: "The tackle was undertaken in one continuous motion, with no secondary action."

On Monday, Evans conceded it was a wrong decision.

"It's caused us a deal of concern on reflection over the last week. While last week I accepted the MRP's determination on some of the differences particularly between the Gibbs tackle and the Schulz tackle, I don't think we've processed that one correctly," Evans said.

"What we should have focused on was the fact that Ted Richards' arms were pinned, he was in a very vulnerable position and he was taken to ground with some force.

"We think that on reflection he should have been charged with rough conduct very similar to the way that Gibbs was charged.

"I've instructed the MRP today that we should have taken greater consideration to where a player's arms have been pinned and he's been rotated towards the ground the way that [Schulz] was ? we need to be far more protective of players' heads."

Bryce Gibbs accepts a two-game suspension from the Match Review Panel for his driving tackle on Port Adelaide star Robbie Gray.

Gibbs pinned Gray's arms to his body as he followed through with the tackle, leading to the Power star's head slamming into the MCG turf.

Gray was taken from the field on a stretcher and substituted out of the game shortly after the incident.

Despite the ban, Power forward Chad Wingard says he does not take issue with Gibbs' tackle on his teammate.

"All the star players you try and rough up and tackle to the ground as hard as you can," Wingard said.

"It's just unlucky he had his arms pinned and couldn't really brace himself."

Bryce Gibbs is set to miss two weeks due to a back injury.

Gibbs was substituted out of the Blues' loss to Geelong in the third quarter after suffering a back spasm.

"Bryce Gibbs fell awkwardly in our last game and hurt his back, which has tightened up all the muscles in his back and he's still very stiff and sore," Carlton football manager Andrew McKay said.

"He'll certainly be out this week and (is) likely to be out the following week."

Bryce Gibbs and Marc Murphy have been told they won't be traded by Carlton at the end of this year, despite the club previously offering no public guarantees on their future.

"The club sat us down a couple of weeks ago, both me and Marc, and said we're not going anywhere," Gibbs told SEN radio.

"We've committed to the footy club, the footy club has committed to both of us and we're going to be here for the next few years."

Carlton cuts it's leadership group from eight to five.

Sam Rowe is a new addition to the group while Andrew Carrazzo, Kade Simpson, Andrew Walker and the delisted Brock McLean have left the group.

Existing leadership group members include Marc Murphy, who will continue as captain, Michael Jamison, Bryce Gibbs and Lachie Henderson.

Bryce Gibbs wins his first best and fairest award with Carlton, taking out the John Nicholls Medal on Wednesday night ahead of Blues skipper Marc Murphy and last year's winner Kade Simpson.

"Bryce is a young man who has committed himself to this football club and thrown himself right into the training that's required for excellence," Carlton coach Mick Malthouse said.

"This season, in particular, he has been a very consistent player, a durable player, and he has grown tremendously in his leadership.

"I know I speak for everyone at Carlton when I say we are delighted for Bryce. This achievement shows he is now reaping the benefits of all his hard work."

After spending most of his career at half-back, Bryce Gibbs says being moved by Blues coach Mick Malthouse into Carlton's midfield has been the catalyst for his turnaround in form in 2014.

"(The midfield) was where I wanted to play my footy," Gibbs said.

"Mick's been really good, he asked me where I wanted to play and he's given me the opportunity to play in the position that I want.

"So I'm just trying to grab it with both hands."

Bryce Gibbs is almost certain to be a Blue for life after signing a lucrative new five-year deal with Carlton, rejecting the lure of a move home and turning his back on becoming a restricted free agent.

Bryce Gibbs has indicated he wants to stay with the Blues beyond 2014, and his contract negotiations are progressing well.

"If it could be done tomorrow it would be done tomorrow," Gibbs said. "I'm settled in Melbourne. I've been here eight years."

Carlton CEO Greg Swann says the club won't engage in a bidding war to keep restricted free agent Bryce Gibbs at the club but remains hopeful it will make a good enough offer.

"We've got a figure and that is the figure we will offer and if he can get two or three times more, he might go, but from our point of view we won't be matching a market that we don't think is real," Swann said.

"The problem you have got is there are not many good free agents and if there are four other clubs chasing them then obviously the price is going to go up.

"We will make an offer and it will be a good offer and hopefully that is enough. We can't just go into a free for all."

Mick Malthouse says he would be disappointed if Bryce Gibbs left the Blues just as he was when Eddie Betts joined the Crows last year.

"I have had that discussion with him. I'm pretty optimistic but I'm also a realist," Malthouse said.

"I get bitterly disappointed on players going, make no mistake of it.

"Losing Eddie Betts (to Adelaide) last year was the second time I've lost a player that I thought I really wanted him to stay and he left.

"It's a reflection of all of us in many respects, that's the way I feel about it."

Blues captain Marc Murphy, vice-captain Kade Simpson and midfielder Bryce Gibbs are reported to have lost money in a failed property development at Mt. Eliza set-up by director Richard Newton.

The venture was affected by the Global Financial Crisis several years ago with the players and Newton losing a collective six-figure amount.

Blues CEO Greg Swann says he is confident Bryce Gibbs will stay at the club.

"We're extremely confident he'll stay," Swann said.

"He's only 24, Bryce. To become a free agent, he's a young man (and) in our view he's still got his best footy ahead of him.

"For us he is a key signing, no doubt about that."

Former Blues Eddie Betts and Sam Jacobs are keen to lure ex-teammate out-of-contract Bryce Gibbs to the Crows at the end of 2014.

"[I] might have to give him (Gibbs) a call and see if he wants to come back to his home state," Betts said.

"Big 'Sauce' (Sam) Jacobs is getting in his ear as well, which is good. I'll give him a call and say 'you're welcome here any time.'"

Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson confirms the Crows' interest in Bryce Gibbs who comes out of contract at the end of the season.

"It would be great to get Bryce to our footy club at some point. He'll be one of a number of players we'll certainly do our homework on and make sure he's the right fit," Sanderson said.

"We'll certainly look at players (who) immediately make us better and I'm sure he's going to be one we look at really closely."

Bryce Gibbs is a certainty to stay a Blue despite becoming a free agent at the end of the season according to teammate Lachie Henderson.

"I think he'll stay, definitely. I've got no reason not to think that," Henderson said.

"'Gibbsy' is loving his time here so I think he'll be with us for a fair bit longer."

Carlton coach Mick Malthouse says he does not understand why Bryce Gibbs' ability as a footballer is still being questioned.

"I'm bemused that people say about him, 'Where's his improvement?'" Malthouse said.

"He is already a very, very good footballer. He finished in the top five of our best and fairest last year.

"I don't really get what Bryce has to do to convince people he's a good footballer and verging on a very, very good footballer."

Carlton has announced an expanded eight-man leadership group for 2014 to be headed by second-year captain Marc Murphy.

Andrew Carrazzo and Kade Simpson will be joint vice-captains, while defender Michael Jamison returns to the group after 12 months in the role of deputy vice-captain.

As well as Jamison, Bryce Gibbs, Lachie Henderson, Brock McLean and Andrew Walker are new inclusions for 2014.

"We have the experienced leadership of Simpson and Carrazzo, together with Brock McLean who is a strong voice both on and off the field," Blues general manager of football operations Andrew McKay said.

"After 12 months out of the leadership group, Bryce Gibbs and Michael Jamison return, which is great to see, because they're two very important and respected figures within the playing group.

"We're also pleased to see Andrew Walker and Lachie Henderson step up – both have come off a terrific season in 2013, finishing second and third respectively in the best and fairest."

On the cusp of 150 games, Bryce Gibbs says his best is yet to come.

"I still think I've got a lot of improvement left in me," he said.

"It's been good this year, I've had another few different roles under Mick (Malthouse) and his coaching staff.

"I think the best is still to come. Hopefully I can keep going and keep improving, which I know I can."

Carlton coach Mick Malthouse says No. 1 draft picks Bryce Gibbs and Matthew Kreuzer will not be put up for trade under any circumstance.

"I can categorically tell you that Gibbs and Kreuzer are untouchable," Malthouse said.

"I don't know how plain I can make that. Do I need to make it any plainer?"

Bryce Gibbs steps down as a Carlton leader to focus on his game but hopes to return to the leadership group in the future.

"As a leader, you strive to play consistent footy every week and probably at times I didn't feel I was doing that last year and maybe found it hard to give some guys some feedback on different things that maybe I wasn't doing myself," Gibbs said.

"I'd like to think I'm well respected within the playing group and what I say around the place is valued (and) the players have certainly given their feedback to me around those issues. Hopefully in the future I could step back in there."

Carlton has named five players to its leadership group including Nick Duigan who joins Andrew Carrazzo, Kade Simpson, Jarrad Waite and Marc Murphy.

Bryce Gibbs and Michael Jamison, leaders in 2012, have been left out of the group, along with former skipper Chris Judd who has decided to focus solely on football in 2013.

On his first day at Carlton training, Mick Malthouse says Bryce Gibbs has been targeted for a greater role in the midfield in 2013.

"He has got to be able to do eight to 10 minutes (in the midfield), and that's quite significant," Malthouse said.

"That takes half a quarter away from others to give them a little bit of relief and also to be able to play in other positions, which I'm pretty keen to do."

Carlton has secured key players Bryce Gibbs and Matthew Kreuzer on new deals.

"There was never any thought of not being at Carlton as this is where I want to be. Carlton has become a real home to me since I left Adelaide when I was 17," Gibbs said.

"This is my club, I have played all my senior football here and feel part of the Carlton family. The growth of the club since I arrived has been fantastic and I am looking forward to enjoying success with this playing group at Carlton," Kreuzer said.

Carlton coach Brett Ratten and Blues champion Chris Judd believe midfielder Bryce Gibbs is poised to become one of the best players in the AFL.

"They might be throwing a bit of a challenge to me, but the coaches and players are all really good in challenging each other all the time, especially this year as we want to go one better and make the top four," Gibbs said.

"A lot of guys had great pre-seasons, but I am probably at the stage of my career where I'm ready to take the next step."

Bryce Gibbs is on the verge of signing a new deal with Carlton, saying he is very happy at the club.

"I'm very happy with how everything is going with me and the club and where we're headed, so hopefully it can sort itself out soon," Gibbs said.

"I'm not one to say 'let's put talks off until the end of the year' - it just causes speculation and headaches and whatnot. The club is working with my management as we speak, and when the right deal is finalised and both parties are happy, I'm sure I'll sign."

Bryce Gibbs and Brett Deledio tell the Herald Sun that they will not be entertaining any offers to move from their clubs.

"I'd sign a deal tomorrow if it was the right one," Gibbs said.

"I'm not going to say, 'Put it off until the end of the year' or 'Let's sign it tomorrow', but I'm happy where I am. When the terms and conditions are met by both parties and everyone is happy I'll sign and whenever that is I'm not too sure."

Like Gibbs, Deledio also says he is happy being at his club, Richmond.

"I love the place. They've always been really good to me and I'm hoping to have it all sorted out in the not-too-distant future, but these things take time and I can't expect it to be rushed," Deledio said.

"If something comes up and it's right to go, then we'll be right to go. It's definitely not the case that I want to wait until the end of the season to get it done. It's all about getting the right deal and making sure everything is done right."

Carlton's Bryce Gibbs is likely to remain on a modified program for a month as he recovers from a shoulder injury.

"I just had rest and a lot of rehab, and I've been trying to strengthen up the muscles around it," Gibbs said.

"It should be fine … but I'm just being careful with the contact stuff. There's no point in hurting it mid-November."

Carlton has expanded its leadership group to seven by adding Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs and Jordan Russell.

It's a pretty stronger indicator that you've got something to offer the group and I'm pretty proud of that. I'm looking forward to improving my leadership skills and qualities by being in the leadership group," Gibbs said.

"I think I can bring some experience, the past four or five years and 100 games now, so it's time to step up as a consistent contributor to the team - and I think some of my opinions will help with some of the younger guys coming through," Murphy added.

Bryce Gibbs had 45 possessions against West Coast equalling Greg Williams' Carlton record set in 1993, but he says he had no idea why the crowd was cheering every disposal.

"You don't notice it too much - it's like any other time I suppose, you just get it and get rid of it," he said.

"You can't worry about the possessions too much - I didn't know what the crowd was going on about then (Marc) Murphy was saying you are racking it up - it was weird."

The Blues have re-signed key youngster Bryce Gibbs for a further two years.

"I am playing with a team that is committed to working together to achieve success and we train at the best facilities, as good as any in the world," Gibbs said.

"Carlton is my home and I am thrilled to be a part of the Carlton Football Club and it is my aim to play my entire AFL career at Carlton."

Blues skipper Chris Judd wins his second John Nicholls Medal as Carlton's best and fairest, edging out Marc Murphy and Bryce Gibbs.

Young Carlton midfielder Bryce Gibbs feels he's ready for the Blues' first final since 2001 to be played against the Brisbane Lions.

"Personally I don't know what it's all about but I'll just keep my routine the same this week and do everything I've been doing this year," he said.

"Obviously the game's intensity is going to pick up and it's going to be a bit of a challenge to keep their crowd quiet.

"I'll just treat it like another game and prepare how I've prepared all year."

Carlton midfielder Bryce Gibbs has denied a niggling thumb injury is hampering his output.

"The thumb is going fine. There is not much you can do about it. I'm just trying to look after it as best I can," he said.

"There's just a bit of bruising. It's not too bad. I don't think about it when I'm playing or anything like that.

"I just strap it up. It feels a little bit sore after the game, but during the game it's fine.

"I'm getting there slowly. I played a couple of all right games and I played a couple of poor games.

"I really wanted to find that consistency this year and hopefully I can put a few better performances in the next couple of weeks."

Carlton says Bryce Gibbs has been cleared of a broken thumb after the game againt Essendon.

Gibbs declares his excitement at running alongside brownlow medalist Chris Judd during the Blues' pre-season training sessions.

"I think he is going to bring a lot of experience to the club and a lot of leadership," Gibbs said. "Hopefully, I can pick up some little tips with a few of the other younger boys."

Gibbs also expresses a desire to cement a spot in the Blues midfield after a solid pre-season.