ADELAIDE
OPERATION Bring Back Bryce.
More than a decade after an administrative quirk meant the Crows could not select the budding Glenelg star as a father-son selection, Bryce Gibbs is poised to come home to Adelaide at this month’s NAB AFL Trade Period.
The Crows tried to bring Gibbs home from Carlton this time last year, but their strategy was a bit ill-conceived. They’ll be smarter this time and it also helps that the Blues are searching for draft picks to bring Matthew Kennedy and Devon Smith to the club from Greater Western Sydney.
Adelaide’s first draft pick (no.16 at this stage) and some shuffling down the order might get it done and it will give the Crows further midfield depth and some more versatility. With Brodie Smith unlikely to play next year, the Crows could do with some more class and that's what Gibbs will bring.
The Crows will also likely get confirmation of Jake Lever’s departure in the next few days, so they’ll be central to much of the trade maneuvering this October.
RICHMOND
The lid is off at Punt Road and after 37 years of misery, who can blame the Tigers for enjoying this one for some time yet?
If the Tigers return with the same degree of hunger next year, then they’ll figure in premiership calculations once more, although Hardwick is smart enough to understand that without some serious tweaking to his game-plan, they'll tumble back down the ladder.
He only needs to look at the Western Bulldogs this year to understand that.
The Tigers got by, almost miraculously, with only one marking forward and Hardwick needs to determine whether to revert back to the traditional two tall forwards arrangement next year. And if so, who will partner up with Jack Riewoldt?
But that’s a decision not for today and not for tomorrow. Richmond first has some celebrating to do.
Want more Grand Final coverage?
• RECAP: the Tigers' rampaging win as it happened
• 10 things we learned: the Tiger cub who was born for finals
• Match report: Terrific Tigers end 37-year wait
• Norm Smith: Dusty completes historic treble
• The moment: When Dusty fired up the Tiger train
• Every Crow rated from the Grand Final
• Every Tiger rated from the Grand Final
