Bryce Gibbs (Australian Rules Footballer) - Recruitment

Recruitment

Speculation that Gibbs would be the No. 1 draft pick began early in the 2006 season. Although his father's career with Glenelg spanned 253 games, Gibbs was ineligible to be taken by the Adelaide Crows under the Father-Son Rule, much to the Crows' chagrin, because his father had not yet played 200 of those games before the Adelaide Crows entered the Australian Football League in 1991.

When Essendon and Carlton met in Round 16 of 2006, the sides were firmly entrenched at the bottom of the ladder, with Carlton having lost its last seven games and Essendon a club-record fourteen. Speculation that the result would decide the wooden spoon (and hence the first draft pick) led to the game jokingly being dubbed the "Bryce Gibbs Cup" by some in the media. Humorously, the match was a draw.

Carlton ultimately finished last, and subsequently selected Gibbs with the first overall pick in the 2006 AFL Draft (held on 25 November 2006). He was given the No. 4 guernsey, formerly worn by club champion and administrator (and later, president), Stephen Kernahan, who was also close friend and former Glenelg teammate of Gibbs' father.