‘Made like few others’: Former Adelaide Crows player Josh Jenkins mourns his beloved grandmother Edith Casey

His childhood trauma was used against him at the infamous Crows camp. Now Josh Jenkins is mourning the death of Edith Casey, the brave elderly lady who raised him.

Edith Casey raised Josh Jenkins from the age of three. Picture: Sarah Reed

Edith Casey, the woman who raised former Adelaide Crow Josh Jenkins and his siblings after they were given up to the foster system, has died at 91.

The retired Victorian farmer is remembered for being “a pillar of strength” for her family and in her community.

Her death comes after Jenkins’ unconventional childhood was used against him in the brutal 2017 Adelaide Crows camp.

“Made like few others are made,” Jenkins wrote on Instagram in a tribute to the stalwart woman he regarded as his grandmother.

“Did what few others would – or could – do. We’ll all miss you E.E.Casey.”

Former Adelaide Crows captain Taylor ‘Tex’ Walker commented on the post, “much love brother”, while North Melbourne player and former Crow Hugh Greenwood posted green heart emojis in support of his mate.

The Jenkins family. Picture: Instagram

Josh and Hannah Jenkins with Edith Casey at their 2018 wedding. Picture: Instagram

Family friend Gemma Clee remembers meeting Ms Casey before Jenkins’ wedding to his wife Hannah in 2018.

“Her adoration for you was so evident in the way she fondly spoke about you as a child and in the photos of you all over the walls,” she wrote.

Edith was a Swan Hill local and retired farmer who raised the “three J’s”, Jenkins and siblings Jenna and Jordan, as foster children.

After their teenage parents were unable to cope when Jenkins was three, Edith, then 59, selflessly became their legal guardian.

Josh Jenkins always maintained a close bond with Edith Casey. Picture: Instagram

Ms Casey became a big fan of the Crows after Jenkins joined the team. Picture: Instagram

Jenkins played 147 games for the Adelaide Crows before moving on to Geelong in 2020.

Following the infamous Crows pre-season camp, Jenkins detailed how he was deeply upset when his childhood was used against him at the camp.

“I – in a naive bid to allow these people to improve me – explained to his person (a counsellor) how I was raised by non-biological grandmother and have had no meaningful relationship with my parents,” he said.

“I specifically asked for assurance pre-camp that nothing regarding my childhood would be raised or used on the camp to spur me or ‘break me down’.

“It is my belief this promise was broken, and I’m not certain I’ll ever forgive those involved for that.”

Originally published as ‘Made like few others’: Former Adelaide Crows player Josh Jenkins mourns his beloved grandmother Edith Casey