Carlton rookie Mick Gibbons hopes his story will provide inspiration to the game’s next generation of stars from the Riverina.
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The former Coolamon and Lavington player’s dream came true on Friday when Carlton signed him as a rookie for the upcoming season.
It ended five years of heartache and disappointment for Gibbons, who continued to be overlooked by AFL clubs despite achieving virtually everything possible at VFL level.
An excited Gibbons told The Daily Advertiser that he could not be happier to be on board at Carlton and hopes there is a lesson in his story.
“I’m incredibly humbled to be given an opportunity at one of the biggest and proudest clubs in the land,” Gibbons said.
“Hopefully it can be a good story for any young lads that come through from back home who continue to have aspirations of making it.”
Gibbons’ story is one of perseverance and resilience.
After being overlooked in his under 18 year, Gibbons moved to Melbourne and joined Williamstown.
Over five seasons, Gibbons has won two JJ Liston Trophies for VFL’s best and fairest player.
The Blues invited Gibbons and Matthew Cottrell to pre-season training in December and announced his signing under the new pre-season supplemental selection period system on Friday.
