Josh Jenkins says he will have scans on his knee on Friday and is hopeful of good news

Josh Jenkins’ four-goal game against Richmond nearly ended in disaster when he was taken from the ground on a stretcher. He says he will have scans on his knee on Friday but is hopeful of avoiding serious injury.

Josh Jenkins leaves Adelaide Oval on a stretcher after hurting his knee in the win over Richmond. Picture: Sarah Reed.

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Crows forward Josh Jenkins is optimistic his knee injury in the final minute of Thursday night’s win over Richmond is not serious.

And it might have to be because post match he said: “I don’t know if I’ve got a year of rehab in me”.

Jenkins said he would have scans on his right knee on Friday but coach Don Pyke said initial signs were his ACL was intact.

The key forward had a huge game against Richmond, kicking 4.3 from 17 disposals in the 33-point win, but it very nearly ended in disaster when he was taken from the ground on a stretcher.

Jenkins swung his boot at a mid-air ball and hyperextended his right leg, immediately falling to the ground in pain in the hands of the trainers.

He had ice on his knee post-game and told Channel 7 in the rooms that he was hopeful of good news.

“I think I’ve escaped but we’ll have to get some pictures tomorrow, but at this stage the worst case scenario looks to be out of the question,” he said.

Jenkins was dropped after kicking four goals in his first four games this season but returned six weeks later and has kicked nine goals in his past three games and looked a completely different player.

Initial assessment on Josh Jenkins appears encouraging. More to come #weflyasone pic.twitter.com/DH78XkozJo

— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) June 13, 2019

“I had real trouble with my ankle earlier in the year and I was either not training and hoping to play well on the back of no training, or training and feeling ordinary in games,” he said.

“So I came to a point where I had to make a decision and we had a couple of byes in the SANFL and (that) gave me a chance to get healthy and feel good, and when you feel good you give yourself half a chance.

Jenkins celebrates one of his four goals against the Tigers. Picture: Sarah Reed.

“It’s been good to engage with the young guys and build some confidence because I still believe I can play at the AFL level.

“It took me a week — the first game I was a bit dirty on the world because we weren’t playing well and it was ‘why me? why not someone else?’

“And then I had a chat to a few people who I really trust and there’s only one way out of it, you can either sulk and play there for the rest of the year or dig in and prove that you’re worthy of a spot in the side.

“It took me a week but I finally came around and here I am.”