Welcome Josh Gibcus | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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Welcome Josh Gibcus

Feb 25, 2007
12,755
6,527
So was sonz, mj with ball in hand, Miller, baker, short - all jittery. A lack of composure all over the ground I thought but particularly from all the younger players.

Yes, a few early but I thought MJ and Sonz did well as the game progressed and it showed. I think most would say that, here are their stats below.
Gibcus just didn't have a good game I'm not sure why some are trying to defend it, he'll be better for it. Also, I deem gibbo a very good mark but he took zero marks.

The Sonz 17 disposals, 7 contested, 4 tackles, 4 clearances,18 pressure acts and 350 meters gained.
MJ 12 disposals, 1 goal, 6 contested, 4 tackles, 4 intercept possessions, 19 pressure acts, 160 meters gained
 
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fastin bulbous

Tiger Champion
Mar 30, 2010
4,208
4,362
Darwin
Yes, a few early but I thought MJ and Sonz did well as the game progressed and it showed. I think most would say that, here are their stats below.
Gibcus just didn't have a good game I'm not sure why some are trying to defend it, he'll be better for it. Also, I deem gibbo a very good mark but he took zero marks.

The Sonz 17 disposals, 7 contested, 4 tackles, 4 clearances,18 pressure acts and 350 meters gained.
MJ 12 disposals, 1 goal, 6 contested, 4 tackles, 4 intercept possessions, 19 pressure acts, 160 meters gained
19 pressure acts! Geez MJR.

I agree Gibcus had a poor game though the ball was coming in quickly and often
 
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Back2Back

Tiger Cub
May 18, 2014
66
6
Discussed Gibcus topic with a mate earlier this year. He excused all his growing pains moments, for his future development ala a young Rance.
I accepted this argument but said playing him as key back in September could cost us a final... but let’s hope the experience last night bears fruit in future years
Go Tiges
 
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Scoop

Tiger Legend
Dec 8, 2004
25,060
14,363
The thing about the dropped marks. He's swallowed them all his life. But he's never been smashed by men in marking contests before. He's dropping them because he's tensing up expecting contact. Elbows, knees, shoulders coming for his exposed, slender ribcage. But he's getting clean hands to the ball because he reads it and soars higher than everyone else. He's going to be an intercept marking beast once he's confident at the level.

He did a brilliant spoil and cat-like recovery in the first quarter on the wing right in front of us. Roved his own ball. Brilliant. Will be a weapon. Lock him in.

10000% spot on. Brilliant observation.
 
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22nd Man

Tiger Legend
Aug 29, 2011
9,248
3,660
Essex Heights
On Fox they had a graphic early in the last quarter which showed that he had covered the second or third most territory for the night - over 12ks. He looked pretty devastated after the game too. And people on here are getting the boots in. Ain’t right.
Covering Territory is not footy
 

Ice

Tiger Superstar
Jul 18, 2006
1,987
756
Yes, a few early but I thought MJ and Sonz did well as the game progressed and it showed. I think most would say that, here are their stats below.
Gibcus just didn't have a good game I'm not sure why some are trying to defend it, he'll be better for it. Also, I deem gibbo a very good mark but he took zero marks.

The Sonz 17 disposals, 7 contested, 4 tackles, 4 clearances,18 pressure acts and 350 meters gained.
MJ 12 disposals, 1 goal, 6 contested, 4 tackles, 4 intercept possessions, 19 pressure acts, 160 meters gained
i think i saw sonz had 15 at half time, so actually re ran out of legs
 
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spook

Kick the f*ckin' goal
Jun 18, 2007
22,385
27,814
Melbourne
10000% spot on. Brilliant observation.
Been there done that, mate. I wasn't a great aerialist but I did play a lot of key forward and copped plenty of ear massages, roundhouses to the guts and knees in the kidneys. People don't always appreciate how exposed you are flying for a mark and how brave the blokes are who continually do it, like Richo and the Riewoldts. I was pleased to hear Leon Cameron unequivocally state on radio last week that the keys are the toughest positions to play. In the stats-driven analysis of the game and subsequent worship of midfielders it's missed too often. One Tom Lynch is worth a thousand Jack Macraes.
 
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DavidSSS

Tiger Legend
Dec 11, 2017
10,761
18,482
Melbourne
I always recall seeing Gibcus next to one of the Carlton forwards in Round 1 and just how small and slight he looked.

What he needs is a bit of a break before the pre-season. Get away from the game for a month or two. Then back late in 2022 and start working the gym to build size, but that will take time. Leon Cameron is right, exposing your torso while reaching for a mark is one tough business, and key position players do it every week. They must end up with a good collection of bruises every week. If he builds his body to be able to handle the hits it will give him confidence and that should help with the perceived timidity.

Give the kid a go, he has the tools, he is a first year player, and by year 3 or 4 I reckon he'll be a valuable defender.

Oh, and forget the experiment up forward, that was just silly.

DS
 
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kiwitiger

Go the AllBlacks, the Storm , and the Tigers.
Jul 28, 2004
3,185
2,099
Maybe in hindsight , was asked to do too much in a debut season ,

Going to have his ups and downs in the beginning,but think he’s going to be a good one in the end
 
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TigerMasochist

Walks softly carries a big stick.
Jul 13, 2003
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So was sonz, mj with ball in hand, Miller, baker, short - all jittery. A lack of composure all over the ground I thought but particularly from all the younger players.
Doesn't help the kids when plenty of senior players were travelling fairly bloody ordinary. Perhaps five kids with under 20 games experience was asking a bit much in such a big game. But I'm more than happy they all got the exposure and experience they need.
Each of them had moments within the game where you could only be impressed with their work ethic, their reading, positioning, their skill and understanding of the game.
Sometimes things went horribly wrong for them during the game, but that also happened to plenty of the senior blokes that's basically what footy's about.
Reckon we've got a bunch of generation next already set to start creating their own stories in these kids, they weren't our worst on Thurs night.
 
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DuD_Delist

Tiger Superstar
Sep 30, 2014
1,320
1,505
This is what i saw last night. So timid around the contest, it's a final, show urgency around the contest.
If we didn't know he was a top 10 pick, you could easily think he was a 3rd or 4th rounder.

Yes, he's young and has great upside. Hope he stacks on the weight and improves his game next year. I will stand by we have a player on our hands but need to call it how I see it right now. His 2nd half of the year was somewhat disappointing and last night was very average and there is no sugar coating it.
Has that timid streak all year.
Like i said hopefully its not a natural thing.
 
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josey

Tiger Superstar
Mar 17, 2008
1,662
367
Melbourne
Has that timid streak all year.
Like i said hopefully its not a natural thing.
I don't see him as being timid at all, in fact I reckon his most serious mistakes has been when he has been too aggressive at the contest.

As a key back he has two important responsibilities in marking contests, the first being not to be outmarked and the second to not allow the ball to get behind the contest. In the second half of the year Gibcus has often allowed the ball to get behind him because he has gone for the hyper aggressive spoil. Rather than consistently knocking the ball to the front of the contest where the smalls can easily read the fall, he has gone for the huge spoil to clear the area or go over the boundary. It is a lower percentage play and often leads to the ball getting behind the contest and an easy play for a smart small forward.

Good coaching and a stronger build will overcome this easily IMO.
 
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thegdog

Tiger Champion
Sep 28, 2009
3,008
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I don't see him as being timid at all, in fact I reckon his most serious mistakes has been when he has been too aggressive at the contest.

As a key back he has two important responsibilities in marking contests, the first being not to be outmarked and the second to not allow the ball to get behind the contest. In the second half of the year Gibcus has often allowed the ball to get behind him because he has gone for the hyper aggressive spoil. Rather than consistently knocking the ball to the front of the contest where the smalls can easily read the fall, he has gone for the huge spoil to clear the area or go over the boundary. It is a lower percentage play and often leads to the ball getting behind the contest and an easy play for a smart small forward.

Good coaching and a stronger build will overcome this easily IMO.
Aggressive going forward into pack, timid going back
 

DuD_Delist

Tiger Superstar
Sep 30, 2014
1,320
1,505
I don't see him as being timid at all, in fact I reckon his most serious mistakes has been when he has been too aggressive at the contest.

As a key back he has two important responsibilities in marking contests, the first being not to be outmarked and the second to not allow the ball to get behind the contest. In the second half of the year Gibcus has often allowed the ball to get behind him because he has gone for the hyper aggressive spoil. Rather than consistently knocking the ball to the front of the contest where the smalls can easily read the fall, he has gone for the huge spoil to clear the area or go over the boundary. It is a lower percentage play and often leads to the ball getting behind the contest and an easy play for a smart small forward.

Good coaching and a stronger build will overcome this easily IMO.
Sorry but i don't see your point when it comes to being timid.
Anyone can spoil.Thats his strength.
Whats not his strength is his attack on his opponent.
Next year will be a true indication.
 

josey

Tiger Superstar
Mar 17, 2008
1,662
367
Melbourne
Sorry but i don't see your point when it comes to being timid.
Anyone can spoil.Thats his strength.
Whats not his strength is his attack on his opponent.
Next year will be a true indication.
I am pretty sure that will come with a more mature body and increased confidence.

Once he cleans up the fundamentals, I reckon he then can focus on his intercepting. Then we will see how good he can be.
 
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year of the tiger

Tiger Legend
Mar 26, 2008
9,510
6,680
Tasmania
I cannot remember a first year defensive KPP come into a team and perform as well as Gibs has this year.

I remember DTLD had a breakout year in his second year? (dont think it was his first) and was talked about being a future captain - till he did his knee and it took him a few years to regain his confidence But was still an excellent A grader.

I am fascinated to see how good this bloke Gibs could actually be.

We all laughed at Rances early efforts but to compare the two.
Rance had the no hold back, full on kamakaze approach early and the finesse came later. Put together he was unstoppable.
Gibs has shown he has the skill and finesse now, he needs to build his body and full on attack.

Which path is easier or more likely to develop that absolute gun - not sure - but will watch with interest.

What I do know is we have a player that you can build a future defence around. He has already surpassed Balta as that player.
 

jb03

Tiger Legend
Jan 28, 2004
33,856
12,110
Melbourne
I don't see him as being timid at all, in fact I reckon his most serious mistakes has been when he has been too aggressive at the contest.

As a key back he has two important responsibilities in marking contests, the first being not to be outmarked and the second to not allow the ball to get behind the contest. In the second half of the year Gibcus has often allowed the ball to get behind him because he has gone for the hyper aggressive spoil. Rather than consistently knocking the ball to the front of the contest where the smalls can easily read the fall, he has gone for the huge spoil to clear the area or go over the boundary. It is a lower percentage play and often leads to the ball getting behind the contest and an easy play for a smart small forward.

Good coaching and a stronger build will overcome this easily IMO.
He is aggressive when the ball is in the air, but not when it is on the ground. He will develop a better spoil (i.e 20 rows back when required). Still think he is going to be a ripper.
 
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TigerMasochist

Walks softly carries a big stick.
Jul 13, 2003
25,927
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Aggressive going forward into pack, timid going back
Bah what rubbish. One incident a few weeks back when he was caught way out in front of being able to affect a contest, started to go back n realised he could only get obliterated for absolutely no team value n he took the only smart option available to him. Self preservation. Some times ya just have to be a little bit smart n not get ya self killed, even if it looks a bit ugly.
 
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thegdog

Tiger Champion
Sep 28, 2009
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2,380
Bah what rubbish. One incident a few weeks back when he was caught way out in front of being able to affect a contest, started to go back n realised he could only get obliterated for absolutely no team value n he took the only smart option available to him. Self preservation. Some times ya just have to be a little bit smart n not get ya self killed, even if it looks a bit ugly.
Bah what rubbish. One incident a few weeks back when he was caught way out in front of being able to affect a contest, started to go back n realised he could only get obliterated for absolutely no team value n he took the only smart option available to him. Self preservation. Some times ya just have to be a little bit smart n not get ya self killed, even if it looks a bit ugly.
Alright he’s Glenn Archer then