Having waited so long for his shot at the AFL, mature-aged Carlton rookie Michael Gibbons is intent on putting himself in the selection frame for round one of the premiership season.
The 23-year-old was overlooked in five years of drafts, despite starring with Williamstown in the VFL, twice winning the JJ Liston Trophy as the league's best player.
But the hard-working half-forward/onballer was finally signed last week by the Blues, via new supplemental rookie rules introduced this year.
"I've played VFL for a few years now and I don't really want to play any more VFL," Gibbons told reporters on Wednesday.
"I've got an opportunity to play some AFL football and, if I get a chance, that would be great.
"Hopefully I can get a call to play in (the pre-season) games and then from there, hopefully, I can set my sights on round one."
Gibbons admitted he was gutted to be overlooked for the fifth year running at the last national and rookie drafts.
He said it was difficult to remain positive in the face of the repeated rejections, but took heart from the encouragement offered by Richmond premiership player Kane Lambert, who was also recruited as a 23-year-old.
"Lambo reached out to me after the (last) draft when I missed out," Gibbons said.
"He also reached out again over the weekend (after I was picked up).
"Someone like him, who gritted (it out) for a long time and eventually got a chance and showed he could do it, he's definitely a good role model for me to look up to."
Hard-running utility Matthew Cottrell was also signed under the new rules, the 19-year-old putting a carpentry apprenticeship on hold while he chased his AFL dream.
Share
