AFL Daily: Josh Jenkins future uncertain, rolling footy for Monday, August 5, 2019
Adelaide has denied rumours of a 'punch-up' between coach Don Pyke and Josh Jenkins, but the key forward's future remains unclear with several Victorian clubs set to come knocking.
Adelaide forward Josh Jenkins will have a list of willing suitors if he is forced to request a trade as the Crows denied he had fallen out with Don Pyke.
Jenkins was dropped for the Crows' win against St Kilda despite being one of just 12 players in the AFL to average two goals a game this season.
The key forward has been much-maligned this year and has twice been dropped as captain Taylor Walker has kept his spot in a side where key players have continually been relegated.
Adelaide assistant coach Ben Hart said speculation about a "punch-up" with Pyke was wildly incorrect, but confirmed the pair had discussed his demotion.
"He didn’t have a run in, just a conversation about not playing on the weekend," Hart said.
"He’s contracted for two more years and I’m assuming that he’s going to be around. Wherever he plays this week, AFL or SANFL, he’ll go and do the things we’re asking him to and do them to the best of his ability."
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Jenkins has a young family in Adelaide and two years to run on his existing contract, and ideally would win back his spot and honour the deal.
But he could be pushed aside as the Crows attempt to overhaul their ageing list, clearly a trade contender given his time in the SANFL.
His camp will be forced to consider rival interest leading into the off-season, with Brisbane pushing hard last time he was out of contract.
Clubs including Melbourne, Collingwood and even the Western Bulldogs need to bolster their key-forward stocks in the trade period given deficiencies this year.
But his price tag is also a factor after securing a lucrative five-year deal of about $550,000 a season at the end of 2016.
Former key forwards including Jonathan Brown believe he needs to provide a more physical presence but his statistics remain strong at 30 years of age.
Only 10 AFL clubs currently have a player averaging two goals a game. Jenkins has kicked 22 goals in 11 games with three bags of four goals and three majors against GWS.
He had kicked four goals in Round 17 against Gold Coast and four goals against Essendon in Round 18 then only a single goal against Carlton before being dropped.
He didn’t play any football on the weekend, with the Crows' SANFL side on the bye, so seems unlikely to return after youngster Darcy Fogarty kicked a late goal against the Saints.
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Originally published as AFL Daily: Josh Jenkins future uncertain, rolling footy for Monday, August 5, 2019