Jenkins presses claims
Tough to find a way in
JOSH Jenkins has conceded that if he cannot break back into the Geelong AFL side “it would be hard to see” his move to the Cats as a success.
After being dropped following a Round 1 appearance at AFL level, Jenkins has been in strong form in the VFL and booted 7.5 as Geelong defeated Northern Bullants by 45 points on Thursday night.
The former Adelaide forward joined Geelong before the 2020 season but a back injury kept him to one appearance last year.
He now finds himself behind Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron, with Esava Ratugolea also seemingly ahead in the selection queue.
“A lot of last year got taken out by that back injury I picked up and I got my chance in Round 1 and didn’t play well enough to hold my spot, so I haven’t really gotten started at Geelong,” he said.
“I am enjoying playing VFL footy with a young group of guys and having an impact on the team, but if I wasn’t to really play any more (AFL) footy with the Cats, it would be hard to see the move as a success.
“I am pretty good with it (being left out), I am pretty matter of fact. I could have gone elsewhere if I was focused solely on playing AFL, I was keen to come to the environment that the Cats provided.”
The 32-year-old said he would consider looking elsewhere should the Cats not offer him another contract at the end of the season but with newborn twins at home he has more on his mind than football.
He said he understood if there was a lineball decision, Ratugolea would be preferred
I AM ENJOYING PLAYING VFL FOOTY WITH A YOUNG GROUP OF GUYS AND HAVING AN IMPACT ON THE TEAM, BUT IF I WASN’T TO REALLY PLAY ANY MORE (AFL) FOOTY WITH THE CATS, IT WOULD BE HARD TO SEE THE MOVE AS A SUCCESS.” JOSH JENKINS, PICTURED
given his youth but Jenkins is adamant he can still offer something at the level.
“I have a really strong desire to play more AFL games because I still feel like I have the capability to play ... I feel like I can more than contribute,” he said.
“I like to think Geelong as a team is in that win-now mode and if it comes down to it and I am in a position to help the team I should play.”
Before each weekend, the AFL sends out coming milestones and since Round 1, Jenkins has been on the list awaiting his 150th match.
He joked he might ask Cats coach Chris Scott to name him as the medical substitute to tick him beyond 149 matches.
Dropped from the AFL side this week, speedster Jordan Clark responded with 29 possessions against the Bullants, while Darcy Fort had 28 disposals in another dominant ruck display.