Alex Keath becomes a Dog, Josh Jenkins off to Cats as Adelaide Crows look to draft as AFL Trade period closes
Just when it seemed a deal was in danger, the Crows and Bulldogs have come to an agreement over a trade for Alex Keath, while Josh Jenkins will go to Geelong after a last-minute deal.
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It came down to the wire, but the Crows were able to engineer trades for defender Alex Keath and forward Josh Jenkins.
A deal that took Jenkins to Geelong was completed just a minute before the trade deadline last night, after the Cats had emerged as a suitor for the out-of-favour forward, just when it seemed that the big man might not get a trade out of West Lakes.
The Crows also sent the future third round pick they got from the Gold Coast Suns for Hugh Greenwood to Geelong in exchange for pick 37 this year.
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Keath’s trade to the Bulldogs came after protracted negotiations between the two clubs. At the start of the trade period, it emerged that Keath’s underwent surgery, at the Bulldogs’ insistence, for a leg injury the Crows believed could be managed
The Bulldogs were also unwilling to part with pick 13 in any package involving Keath, who will sign a three-year deal at Whitten Oval after a breakout year for the Crows in 2019.
The clubs were so far apart initially that hours before the trade deadline, Crows list manager Justin Reid said he was “not real confident” that a deal could be done for the 27-year-old former Category B rookie.
He said that if no deal was made, Keath would return to Adelaide. The two clubs eventually agreed that the Crows would receive pick 45 and a future second-round pick from the Bulldogs for Keath and their future third-round selection.
Reid said the deal would allow the club to bring in some exciting young talent.
“We are looking to rejuvenate our list so pick 45 will help us do that,” Reid said.
“At the same time, we would like to thank Alex for his contribution to the club. He came to AFL football later than most players and did everything he could to reach the top level.”
The Crows then beat the clock to send Jenkins to Geelong.
Despite Jenkins and the Crows agreeing that his time was up at West Lakes, and Jenkins indicating he would take a pay cut to play anywhere, there was little concrete interest in the 30-year-old key forward. But on the last day of the trade period, Geelong emerged as a new home for Jenkins.
This was put down in part to his former teammate Patrick Dangerfield, who last week expressed surprise no club had yet decided to chase Jenkins — who kicked nearly 300 goals for the Crows in 147 games.
“It’s a bit bemusing to be honest,” Dangerfield told AFL Trade Radio last week regarding the lack of interest in Jenkins.
“I’m a little bit biased because I’m good mates with him, but I try and remove that hat and I just look at his form when he has played. I think he has a lot to offer at AFL level.
“He’s a goal kicker … you’ve still got to kick a winning score to win games. He hits the scoreboard, he’s a good contested mark and he’s a really intelligent player.
“I think quite often we look at players for what they can’t do rather than what they can do. I think a team would really benefit from him.”
On Monday Reid said there had been zero concrete interest from other clubs in Jenkins which raised the possibility that Jenkins could end up an Adelaide player even though he and the Crows had mutually agreed to part ways.
New Crows coach Matthew Nicks has said he would try to speak to Jenkins, who is currently in the US, but said it was unlikely he would push against the list management’s decision to try and off-load the 30-year-old big forward.
Reid said Jenkins had been a good contributor in his eight seasons at the Crows.
“Josh has been a valuable contributor to our club for almost 150 games with a return of nearly 300 goals which is a great achievement,” Reid said.
The Crows will pay a portion of Jenkins’ contract.
Those two departures add to Eddie Betts leaving for Carlton, Greenwood to the Suns, Cam Ellis-Yolmen to Brisbane and Sam Jacobs to GWS.
Richard Douglas and Paul Hunter have been delisted and Andy Otten has retired.
Riley Knight is out of contract but was at the first media conference for new Crows’ coach Matthew Nicks.