AFL great David King reveals why Adelaide could let Josh Jenkins go to Brisbane

North Melbourne great David King has urged Josh Jenkins to take the money and run to Brisbane while Adelaide should hold firm in its latest player showdown.

Josh Jenkins at training this week. Picture: Roger Wyman

• Bone: Don’t pay more than $600K
• Danger signs for Crows on Jenkins

North Melbourne great David King has urged Josh Jenkins to take the money and run to Brisbane but believes Adelaide should hold firm in its latest player showdown.

Former Adelaide superstar Wayne Carey insists it would be injudicious of Brisbane to table a $4.5 million, five-year deal to a “fourth stringer” in Jenkins, 27.

King says Jenkins’ 34-goal season must be respected but any trade could be a win-win for club and player. A trade for Richmond’s midfield gem Brett Deledio should “absolutely” be Adelaide’s priority.

“If I am getting $4.5m I am going. It is a no-brainer You can’t knock a player for the offer,” King told The Advertiser.

“That’s footy. If I am the Adelaide Crows I am not paying anywhere near that and taking a stance.

“Brett (Deledio) is a quality player, has five good years left, 100 per cent.”

Adelaide doesn’t want to pay more than $550,000 per season for the basketball convert it nurtured over five years for 155 goals in 80 games.

King warned the Crows shouldn’t be spooked by the high profile departures of Patrick Dangerfield, Kurt Tippett, Jack Gunston and Phil Davis.

“If he walks you get a good pick and start again and I don’t subscribe to theory they have lost so many. You have to worry about today,” King said.

An Advertiser.com.au poll had the majority of voters saying Adelaide’s should pay no more than $600,000 annually to Jenkins until 2020.

King forensically delved into the detail of Jenkins’ 2016 success. The dual premiership midfielder established the power forward was a beneficiary of Adelaide’s system despite his sterling accuracy and back-up ruck expertise.

“You have to look at the type of goals he kicks which is the most important thing for me with 32 of 34 this season coming from the corridor. He’s kicked 24 of 34 goals from 0-30 metres out,” King said.

“This means it can be related to how the Crows move the ball and be as much about the team as him.”

Carey also took aim at Jenkins’ management — headed by Paul Connors — for creating delusions of grandeur when his client was best suited to life in Adelaide’s forward line.

“He kicked seven goals from contested marks but getting the third best defender and getting out behind Tom Lynch and Taylor Walker because of his speed,” noted King.

“There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s what he is. You just have to understand what you are getting.”

Catch David King in the Fox Footy LAB.

Originally published as AFL great David King reveals why Adelaide could let Josh Jenkins go to Brisbane