ADELAIDE coach Don Pyke remains confident out-of-favour midfielder Bryce Gibbs can be a valuable part of the side after getting dropped for a fourth time this season.
The 30-year-old was axed for Showdown 47 against crosstown rival Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
Gibbs paid the price for having just 13 disposals in last Friday night's 27-point loss to ladder leaders Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.
It continues the former Carlton star's up and down season, having not played consecutive games at senior level since rounds 1-3.
"I'm really confident he'll turn this around," Pyke told reporters on Friday.
"He's a quality player, that's why we got him to the footy club.
"He's having a bit of a rough patch at the moment, but he'll come out the other side."
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The Crows handed over pick 10 in the 2017 NAB AFL Draft, along with a swap of first- and second-round picks, to secure Gibbs on a four-year deal from the Blues at the end of 2017.
Gibbs had a strong first season with the Crows, playing all 22 games and finishing fourth in last year's best and fairest, but his form has dropped away dramatically.
"Of all the people who are disappointed, he's at the top of the queue," Pyke said.
"He understands and he had an opportunity last week.
"He didn't grab it and now he knows he has to go back (to the SANFL) and work hard and double down to get himself another chance.
"I'm sure when that comes, he'll put his best foot forward."
Gibbs hasn't had the opportunity to redeem himself for a below-par performance in the senior side.
After playing the first three games of the season, he was dropped the following week before returning for the round five win against Gold Coast, when he had 26 disposals.
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He then played in round seven (13 disposals in a 17-point win against Fremantle), round nine (22 disposals in a one-point loss to Brisbane), round 11 (13 disposals in a two-point win against Melbourne, when he did an outstanding tagging job on Demons star Clayton Oliver in the second half) and 13 disposals in the loss to the Cats last week.
"He's been in and out a little bit - that's been through availability of other players," Pyke said.
"We've had some guys go out of the team and come into the team and it sort of squeezed him a couple of times.
"That's probably making it a little more difficult for him, but he understands where he's at and clearly we need to keep working away and we'll get him there."
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Gibbs was one of three changes to the Crows (8-6) for the Showdown, with young forwards Ben Davis and Elliott Himmelberg also omitted.
Key forward Josh Jenkins is a certain starter after proving his fitness on Friday morning – just three weeks after hyper-extending his right knee against Richmond in round three.
Utility Wayne Milera returns from a lower back injury, while veteran David Mackay has been recalled after strong form earlier in the season.
