Josh Jenkins admits he thought match-winning goal hit the post
IT was the goal that decided the Showdown but even the man who kicked it, Josh Jenkins, has admitted he thought he’d missed. While the AFL has given the decision the green light.
IT WAS the goal that decided the Showdown but even the man who kicked it, Josh Jenkins, admitted he thought he’d missed.
With Adelaide trailing 89-93 with 2.38 to go, Jenkins led out from half-forward and kept the ball alive inside 50m.
As he and Eddie Betts rushed towards it, Betts over-ran the ball allowing Jenkins to pick it up, dodge his opponents and snap around his body.
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The ball went agonisingly close to the left goal post and the reaction of the crowd said a goal but the umpire called for a score review.
The Crows began to set up as if it was a behind and the Power would kick the ball in but when the verdict was delivered on the big screen it was met with a roar from the crowd. “Goal” it said.
“My grandma raised me not to tell fibs, I think it hit the post,” Jenkins told Fox Footy post-match.
“But I’m pretty happy he (score review) didn’t think so.
That kick put Adelaide up by two points and the final three minutes was about hanging on as best they could, which they did.
The thrilling finish had all the drama of Steven Motlop’s match-winning goal in Showdown 44 only this time it was Jenkins and Adelaide who were smiling at the final siren.
“It wasn’t quite as climactic but it was still good,” Jenkins said.
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley said the AFL should be “embarrassed” by “a monumental failure” but the AFL later gave the decision the green light.
“After the Josh Jenkins shot at goal late in the fourth quarter, the goal umpire called for a score review and gave his preliminary decision as a goal,” the statement read.
“After reviewing all relevant angles for 23 seconds, the score review official determined there was no clear evidence beyond reasonable doubt that the preliminary call of goal was incorrect, and hence a goal was confirmed.
“It is the AFL determination that after accessing all relevant vision this evening, it supported the decision of the reviewer to confirm the goal umpire’s decision of a goal, with no clear evidence beyond reasonable doubt to make an over-rule.”
Jenkins is so often maligned at Adelaide when the Crows under-perform but he was enormous on Saturday night.
He finished the game with 18 disposals, eight marks (two contested), and importantly on a night when his team was largely inaccurate, three goals straight.
He kicked the first goal of the game to kick-start the Crows and presented all night which gave Jack Hombsch a headache and allowed Taylor Walker not to be the only focal point in a forwardline that is missing Mitch McGovern with injury.
Betts’ role in the final term should also be noted, he kicked a crucial goal on the run but it was his pressure around the ball that willed his side over the line. There is no more mysterious player at Adelaide than Betts at the moment. He looks devoid of confidence taking a set shot even from 30m yet his enthusiasm for the contest and to tackle, chase and harass as is good as anyone.
In a game that was ultimately decided by three points, Betts’ smother on Dan Houston’s kick on the last line of defence which forced a rushed behind in the third term was also decisive.
As was his pressure on Houston at the other end in the final quarter when Houston fumbled and conceded another behind.
They are small moments but with huge consequences.
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