Trade HQ: Josh Jenkins, Darcy Fogarty and Bryce Gibbs lead Adelaide’s most intriguing list calls
Few sides have been more ruthless at selection than Adelaide this year. But what does that mean come trade season? AFL great Brendon Goddard and Reece Homfray break down where the Crows are at.
Josh Jenkins is Adelaide’s barometer.
That is what always stood out to me when playing against or scouting the Crows. When he is competing hard, providing bail out options down the line and kicking goals, Adelaide will always be a tough side to beat.
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Clearly Don Pyke lost patience with the big forward earlier in the season when he sent him to the SANFL, which opened up speculation he could be on the trade block.
For mine, the Crows can’t let this happen. They still need Jenkins.
I won’t forget the game he played against Alex Rance early last year, when he kicked five goals against the best key defender in the game. He’s not going to do that every week but players who are even capable of that to begin with are incredibly hard to find. You can’t give up on that skill set.
The Crows know they are probably one elite midfielder short, which they tried to fix by recruiting Bryce Gibbs. That hasn’t worked.
However, there is help on the way. With the club holding Carlton’s first pick in the 2019 draft, they have a chance to take either Matt Rowell or Noah Anderson. Both are star midfielders.
I think the bigger issue is, who is going to take the reins at small forward when Eddie Betts retires? This is where losing Charlie Cameron after the 2017 Grand Final really hurts, as he was essentially Eddie 2.0.
Riley Knight and Lachlan Murphy are developing well but it will be a big ask for them to reach that level.
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With the Crows getting their season back on track, I’d like to see them give Darcy Fogarty a block of three or four games to see where he is at.
When you’re going well you can afford to play one or two kids. This can fast track their development and before you know it, you’ve unearthed another star.
REECE HOMFRAY BREAKS DOWN ADELAIDE’S BIGGEST TRADE QUESTIONS
THREE CROWS RIVAL RECRUITERS ARE WATCHING:
DARCY FOGARTY
Yet to play a senior game this season despite fluctuating form from Adelaide’s key forwards including Josh Jenkins and Elliott Himmelberg — who can however play as the second ruckman and Fogarty can’t. Has been trialled in defence in the SANFL but is a natural forward and although he is signed to the end of 2021, rival clubs will at least be asking the question of his manager.
HUGH GREENWOOD
Yet to even hear from the club mid-year and still no deal on the table by Round 13, Greenwood is the biggest name out of contract at the Crows this season and appears in limbo. At 27 he wants to finish his career at West Lakes but if the club wants to go in a different direction then he would undoubtedly draw interest elsewhere. A contested ball beast who can take an overhead mark in front of goal, he would be ideal support for Patrick Cripps at Carlton.
BRYCE GIBBS
Fascinating story all year, and along with Josh Jenkins, they both have long-term deals at the Crows but have been in and out of the team all season. Gibbs is no longer a first-choice midfielder at Adelaide as he sits behind the Crouch brothers, Sloane and Cameron Ellis-Yolmen. There’s not much room in defence when Laird, Smith and Milera are all fit, and the club is playing younger guys on the wing and forward. At 30 Gibbs would appear to have two years left in him but would a rival club agree to his lucrative contract to take him on?
THREE PLAYERS CROWS RECRUITERS ARE WATCHING:
BRODIE GRUNDY
It’s no secret the Crows are after Grundy, who along with Max Gawn is one of the two best ruckmen in the competition. Grundy is still contracted to Collingwood until next year when he becomes a free agent and Adelaide is hoping to lure him home to SA. Adelaide would be silly not to offer their highest draft pick (likely Pick 1 if Carlton finishes bottom) this year in the hope the Pies might be tempted to take it if they believe Grundy may walk a year later.
JACK LUKOSIUS
Croweater who joined the Gold Coast Suns with Pick 2 in last year’s draft but is yet to sign an extension to his initial two years and the Crows may try to lure him home. Hasn’t set the world on fire in his debut season but is a developing tall who deserves time to mature into his body and the game.
IZAK RANKINE
Went one pick after Lukosius to Gold Coast with Pick 3 and is yet to make his AFL debut after injury interruptions stemming from pre-season. Another South Australian who was on the Crows’ radar and they will ask the question if not this year then next. Explosive, fast and versatile.
RATE THE 2018 TRADE PERIOD
Score: 7/10
Adelaide wasn’t a major player last trade period and the jury is out on whether Shane McAdam and Pick 13 was a win for losing Mitch McGovern to Carlton. Pick 13 became Pick 16 on draft night and the Crows took Ned McHenry who is yet to debut this season but looks every bit a long-term player. McAdam also hasn’t played but expectations weren’t high in his first season on an AFL list. Adelaide also used Pick 68 it got from Gold Coast to get Tyson Stengle from Richmond and he also hasn’t played a senior game this year so it’s hard to judge.
WHY CHAMPION DATA LIKES THE CROWS:
Adelaide’s ‘best 22’ is rated as the second most talented in the competition, with their defence rating second, midfield rating third and forward rating third.
Originally published as Trade HQ: Josh Jenkins, Darcy Fogarty and Bryce Gibbs lead Adelaide’s most intriguing list calls
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