The two-time JJ Liston Trophy winner (VFL best and fairest) and Norm Goss Medallist (VFL grand final best and fairest) added Williamstown’s Gerry Callahan Medal (club best and fairest) to his impressive resume last Thursday night.

Gibbons took his game to another level this season, averaging 29.5 disposals and five tackles per game as Williamstown reached the preliminary final.

With the revelation Gold Coast will receive access to three mature-age players prior to the draft, and Carlton two, as well as extra rookie spots, Gibbons’ name will no doubt have to enter the conversation.

The 23-year-old Ovens and Murray and Riverina league export was picked up by the Seagulls after being overlooked in the 2013 AFL rookie draft and it’s been a similar story for half a decade.

Gibbons rated this season as his best and clings to hope a long-awaited AFL opportunity will come around.

“There’s been a little bit of talk, but nothing concrete at this stage,” Gibbons said.

“I’ve had this media stuff around me for the last four or five years, so it’s nothing new to me.

“Obviously I had a good year and an enjoyable year and I would love to get the chance (to play AFL).

“I stepped up to the leadership group (at Williamstown) and we were struggling early in the year and galvanised the boys.

“We didn’t have the same personnel as we did in the last three or four years, but we’ve probably been a better team this year than any other year.”

Gibbons welcomed the AFL’s decision to provide clubs with access to mature-age players.

“Any avenue in, I’ll take and it’s helpful because it’s a good opportunity for other VFL and state league players,” he said.

“Obviously the mature-age recruits are the in thing this year, blokes like Tim Kelly (at Geelong) and (Melbourne’s) Bayley Fritsch have paved the way like (Richmond’s) Kane Lambert a few years ago.

Tom Atkins, son of former Wodonga star and 1992 Did Simpson Medallist Mick Atkins, took out Geelong’s VFL best and fairest. 

This year’s AFL national draft is on November 22.