Sam Gibson (footballer)

{{Short description|Australian rules footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}

{{Use Australian English|date=January 2018}}

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Sam Gibson

| image = Sam Gibson 2017.1.jpg

| image_size = 200px

| caption = Gibson playing for North Melbourne in June 2017

| fullname = Sam Gibson

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|05|27|df=y}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| originalteam = Box Hill Hawks (VFL)

| draftpick = No. 37, 2007 rookie draft
No. 63, 2012 rookie draft

| height = 185 cm

| weight = 83 kg

| position =

| currentclub =

| guernsey =

| years1 = 2012–2017

| club1 = {{AFL NM}}

| games_goals1 = 130 (51)

| years2 = 2018

| club2 = {{AFL Ade}}

| games_goals2 = 5 (2)

| games_goalstotal = 135 (53)

| statsend = 2018

| careerhighlights =

}}

Sam Gibson (born 27 May 1986) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the North Melbourne Football Club and the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was recruited by North Melbourne in the 2012 rookie draft, with pick 63. Gibson made his debut in round 12, 2012, against {{AFL GC}} at Carrara Stadium.{{cite web|title=Sam Gibson elevated to North Melbourne's senior list|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/teams/sam-gibson-elevated-to-north-melbournes-senior-list/story-e6frf9m6-1226394192594|author=Landsberger, Sam|date=13 June 2012|work=Herald Sun|access-date=17 June 2012}}

At the end of the 2012 season Gibson signed a two-year deal with North Melbourne Football Club{{cite news|date=1 October 2012|access-date=25 November 2014|title=Gibson re-signs|url= http://www.kangaroos.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/4912/newsid/148931/default.aspx}} and was promoted to the senior list. He was told the 6th of October 2017 that his contract would not be renewed.

In his 135-game career, he has had only had 3 matches with less than 10 disposals, all three coming when he started as the sub.{{cite web |url=http://www.nmfc.com.au/player-profile/sam-gibson |title=Sam Gibson - NMFC.com.au |website=www.nmfc.com.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130101104340/http://www.nmfc.com.au/player-profile/sam-gibson |archive-date=2013-01-01}}

In Round 16, 2016 Gibson played his 100th consecutive game from debut, the eighth player to do so.{{Cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/alltime/misc_players.html#03|title = AFL Tables - Miscellaneous Player Records}} Gibson never missed a game for North Melbourne eventually going on to play 130 games from debut to when he was delisted.

Gibson was second at North for disposals and led the side in kicks, marks and uncontested disposals. He also increased his numbers from 2013 in disposals (21.6 to 24.6), tackles (2 to 3.5), rebound 50's (1.3 to 2.9), inside 50's (2.6 to 2.8) and clearances (1.7 to 2.1).{{cite news|url=http://www.nmfc.com.au/news/2014-11-12/2014-review-sam-gibson|title=2014 Review: Sam Gibson|publisher=North Melbourne Football Club|last=Mangidis|first=Rick|date=12 November 2014|access-date=25 November 2014|archive-date=29 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129092953/http://www.nmfc.com.au/news/2014-11-12/2014-review-sam-gibson|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

At the conclusion of the 2017 season, Gibson was delisted by North Melbourne Football Club.{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-10-06/north-put-a-line-through-durable-midfielder|title=Durable midfielder gets the chop from North|last=Bowen|first=Nick|date=6 October 2017|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=6 October 2017}}

In October 2017, Gibson was traded to {{AFL Ade}}.{{Cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-10-19/crows-nab-durable-veteran-roo-for-pick-91|title=Discarded Roo given surprise lifeline at Crows - AFL.com.au|work=afl.com.au|access-date=2017-10-19}} He was named to play in round 1 the following season for Adelaide, but was a late withdrawal from the final side as a result of hamstring tightness sustained during the Crows' final training session pre-match. This brought to an end his streak of 130 consecutive games played without missing due to injury or suspension. At the time this was the league's longest such streak as well as the league record second most consecutive games since debut.{{cite news|last1=Beveridge|first1=Riley|title=Sam Gibson late withdrawal: Midfielder's run of games ends at 130 straight matches|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/sam-gibson-late-withdrawal-midfielders-run-of-games-ends-at-130-straight-matches/news-story/a02ff4798545c22c46b817ed6c81a9b7|access-date=26 March 2018|work=Fox Sports|publisher=News Corp Australia|date=23 March 2018}}

Gibson has a commerce/engineering degree, and worked as a civil engineer prior to joining North Melbourne.{{cite web|last1=Windley|first1=Matt|title=AFL players often get labelled meatheads who can only kick a footy, but who is the smartest player at your club?|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/afl-players-often-get-labelled-meatheads-who-can-only-kick-a-footy-but-who-is-the-smartest-player-at-your-club/news-story/069a268e3fd26c176eea2b98d42f252a?sv=1cfcee8e9c462dbfe8452dd793f161b4|website=The Advertiser|publisher=News Corporation|access-date=15 August 2017}}

Gibson announced his retirement from AFL football in August 2018.{{Cite web|url=http://www.afc.com.au/news/2018-08-07/gibson-to-retire|title=Gibson to retire|date=7 August 2018}}