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Roos midfield perplexed with delisting

Published by
Zero Hanger

Delisted North Melbourne midfielder Sam Gibson says he has plenty more to offer at AFL level, after being cut by the club at the end of last week.

Gibson, 31, played 130 consecutive games with the Roos, not missing a match since his debut.

However, despite playing every game this season and finishing sixth in the club's best, the onballer was delisted.

Gibson says he is still trying to figure out why he was not offered a contract extension and says he is driven to continue at the highest level.

"I guess in one way you have to admire the club's conviction in making those decisions but it's not really a decision that I paritularly agreed with, to be honest," Gibson said on AFL Trade Radio on Tuesday.

"The longer it dragged out the more you probably see the writing on the wall so when I had that conversation with Brad (Scott) a couple of days ago it wasn't a complete shock, but that being said I think I'm a pretty rational person and it can be pretty hard to fathom that you can be in the best 22 for 130 weeks and finish sixth in the best-and-fairest and not have a contract for next year.

"That's been tough but that's just the nature of our industry, I guess.

"What I take out, given that we missed out on a few of those stars through free agency and trade period, is that we have to take a longer-term approach so I guess they're looking at playing younger guys and maybe they saw me as taking one of those younger guys' spots."

Gibson said he is keen to speak to clubs himself along with his manager to push his case for a second chance.

"I'd happily sit down with any club who has any interest and plead my case face to face because I think if they met me and they saw the type of person I am and they could hear the conviction in the words that come out of my mouth, it might put a stronger case forward than hearing stuff from my manager," he said.

"I'd happily go anywhere. I'm still pretty driven to succeed and I still feel like I had a pretty good year this year and I've got a lot to give any club."

Published by
Zero Hanger