WELCOME back, Bryce Gibbs.

The 2014 John Nicholls Medallist returned to IKON Park for the first time in five years on Friday, watching some former teammates and new faces during their captain’s run training session. 

After 231 games with the Blues, Gibbs moved back to his native South Australia to play his final three seasons with the Adelaide Crows. 

A stint with the opposition club followed by Covid-19 restrictions meant it was difficult for Gibbs to return to the ground which he called home for over a decade.

It looks a little bit different now to what it was when he left.

“How good is this? I’m blown away,” Gibbs said on Friday.

“I had a bit of a tour and it’s a lot different to the last time I was here. It’s good to be back.

“The last time I was here was in 2017, five years ago. Now that I’m all retired and not doing much, I can get over.

“I just wanted to come over and watch the boys play: I spoke to Shane O’Sullivan who said to come down to the captain’s run and catch up with a few of the boys.”

It was fitting that O’Sullivan was the one who welcomed Gibbs back through the doors of IKON Park, with the former No.1 draft selection living with the O’Sullivans for two years after making the transition to Melbourne. 

Back then, the existing admin facility was only just being built. Now in the final stages of a redevelopment, Gibbs was mightily impressed - if not a little jealous - about the facilities which are nearing completion.

“I can’t believe it,” he said.

“Walking in and seeing how the memorabilia is going to be set up, all the different rooms and the indoor grass area, that’s going to be pretty impressive.

“It certainly makes me a bit jealous that I’m not going to be here to enjoy it all. It’s amazing what they’ve done.”

Gibbs will be in the stands tomorrow night with a few past teammates amidst a bumper crowd expected at the MCG for the clash with the ladder-leading Geelong.

Of course, he already keeps a close eye on his former side, particularly as he begins to dabble in some media work for SEN in South Australia.

“I’ve gone to the dark side, doing a bit of media!

“I’ve been really impressed. We’ve obviously been starved of success for too long and it’s good to see the Club back up.

“They’ve been really consistent this year and fought through a bit of adversity with some injuries but finding a way to keep winning. Hopefully we can get a few troops back in the next couple of weeks and have a real crack.”

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Gibbs will reconnect with his Carlton roots in a few weeks when he’s a special guest at the first Carlton IN Business function in Adelaide, alongside another South Australian great in Scott Camporeale.

“It’s really exciting to get the call-up to come have a chat in that function. Hopefully we can get a few Blues supporters along to that one in Adelaide, it should be a good day.”

To purchase tickets to that event, click here.