Michael Gibbons (footballer) explained

Michael Gibbons
Fullname:Michael Gibbons
Birth Date:15 May 1995
Originalteam:Lavington, Murray BushrangersWilliamstown (VFL)
Debutdate:Round 1, 2019
Debutstadium:MCG
Height:175 cm
Weight:75 kg
Position:Inside Midfielder / Medium Forward[1]
Guernsey:40
Years1:2019 - 2021
Games Goals1:47 (35)
Statsend:2021
Careerhighlights:

Michael Gibbons (born 15 May 1995) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was recruited from Williamstown after he won two J J Liston Trophys, the best and fairest in the VFL.

Early life and junior career

Gibbons began his football journey with Coolamon (NSW) before playing under 18 football in the TAC Cup with the Murray Bushrangers. Overlooked in the draft he moved to Melbourne to further develop his game. The versatile midfield-forward spent five years at Williamstown in the VFL. In that time, he became a dual J.J Liston Medal winner and Norm Goss Medallist in the 2015 VFL Grand Final.[2]

AFL career

Carlton (2019-2021)

Gibbons was recruited by Carlton as a supplemental rookie recruit in February 2019.[3] He made his senior debut later that month in the opening game of the season against Richmond, and immediately established himself as a regular member of the club's senior team, primarily as a small/mid-sized forward, rather than the midfield position he had played at Williamstown. He signed a one-year extension contract for the Blues for the 2020 season as a rookie, and then signed to the club's senior list at the start of 2021.[4] He missed only three games in his first two-and-a-half seasons, and kicked 35 goals in that time, before missing the latter half of 2021 with a hamstring injury. He was delisted at the conclusion of the 2021 season.[5]

Post-AFL career

Gibbons joined Yarrawonga in the Ovens & Murray Football Netball League for the 2022 season. After missing the 2022 grand final due to injury,[6] he helped the Pigeons win the 2023 premiership and was named the H.J. "Did" Simpson Medalist as best on ground.

Statistics

|- style="background:#EAEAEA"| scope="row" text-align:center | 2019| | 40 || 21 || 16 || 14 || 196 || 112 || 308 || 69 || 57 || 0.8 || 0.7 || 9.3 || 5.3 || 14.7 || 3.3 || 2.7|-| scope="row" text-align:center | 2020| | 40 || 15 || 11 || 6 || 144 || 63 ||207 || 51 || 42 || 0.7 || 0.4 || 9.6 || 4.2 || 13.8 || 3.3 || 2.9|- style="background:#EAEAEA"| scope="row" text-align:center | 2021| | 40 || 11 || 8 || 5 || 98 || 58 || 156 || 39 || 27 || 0.8 || 0.7 || 9.3 || 5.3 || 14.7 || 3.3 || 2.7|- class="sortbottom"! colspan=3| Career! 47! 35! 25! 438! 233! 671! 159! 126! 0.7! 0.6! 9.4! 4.9! 14.3! 3.3! 2.8|}

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Blueseum - History of the Carlton Football Club Michael Gibbons. 2020-07-28. Blueseum - History of the Carlton Football Club. en.
  2. Web site: Draft Me: Michael Gibbons - Williamstown Football Club.
  3. Web site: Blues sign Gibbons and Cottrell.
  4. Web site: Gibbons signs on to senior list. 23 September 2020. 26 September 2020. Carlton Football Club.
  5. Web site: Blues make list changes. 2021-10-07. carltonfc.com.au. en.
  6. Web site: Michael Gibbons comes full circle to play in Ovens and Murray grand final at Lavington. Tervet. Steve. The Border Mail. Australian Community Media. 21 September 2023. 24 September 2023.