Joshua Jenkins (born 8 February 1989) is a former professional Australian rules footballer. He last played for the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played for the Adelaide Football Club from 2012 to 2019 and was on the Essendon Football Club's list in 2011 without playing a senior game.

Josh Jenkins
Jenkins playing for Adelaide in 2019
Personal information
Full name Joshua Jenkins
Nickname(s) JJ, Jenko
Date of birth (1989-02-08) 8 February 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth Swan Hill, Victoria
Original team(s) Tyntynder (CMFL)
Draft No. 12, 2010 rookie draft
Debut Round 7, 2012, Adelaide vs. Geelong, at AAMI Stadium
Height 200 cm (6 ft 7 in)
Weight 108 kg (238 lb)
Position(s) Key forward / ruckman
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2011 Essendon 000 00(0)
2012–2019 Adelaide 147 (296)
2020–2021 Geelong 002 00(0)
Total 149 (296)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2021.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Basketball career

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As a junior Jenkins mainly played basketball and was a development player with the Townsville Crocodiles in the Australian National Basketball League. He had previously played with the Townsville Heat and Mackay Meteors in the QABL, a second tier league within Australia. As a shooting guard, he attended Townsville State High School and led the team to 7th place at the State titles. In 2007 he toured the United States with the Australian junior team.[citation needed]

AFL career

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Essendon (2011)

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In 2010 he was invited to attend a training camp for the Australian rules football expansion team, Greater Western Sydney, after switching away from basketball to play football in Lake Boga, Victoria.[1] At the end of the year, he was drafted by Essendon with pick 12 in the 2010 Rookie Draft.[2]

Jenkins spent the 2011 season playing for Essendon's VFL affiliate, the Bendigo Bombers, but was highly sought after in the 2011 trading period. Despite initially seeking a trade to another Victorian club, Jenkins was traded to Adelaide along with national draft pick 41, in exchange for pick 31.[3][4]

Adelaide (2012–2019)

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Jenkins made his AFL debut in round 7, 2012, against Geelong at AAMI Stadium, and kicked a goal with his first kick.[5] He played 11 matches in his first year and kicked 11 goals.[6] In 2013 Jenkins switched his guernsey number from number 20 to 4, vacated by Kurt Tippett after his controversial departure from the club, and was dubbed as Tippett's replacement in the key forward position.[7] Provided extra responsibility by Tippett's loss and Taylor Walker's injury, Jenkins kicked 24 goals in 17 games in 2013 before a fractured ankle ended his season.[8] He finished third in the club's goalkicking that year.[6]

Jenkins signed a new two-year contract with Adelaide in May 2014.[9] He proceeded to have his best season to date, kicking 40 goals in 20 games, including five against Hawthorn in round 17. He improved even further in 2015, kicking 46 goals and taking more contested marks than any other Adelaide player.[6]

In round 7, 2016, Jenkins kicked a career-high eight goals in the Crows' 15-point loss to the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.[10] He went on to kick 62 goals in the season, a career high, and was named in the All-Australian squad of 40.[6] It was reported during the season that rival club Brisbane Lions had offered Jenkins a five-year deal worth $750,000 per season;[11] however, he ultimately rejected other offers to sign a five-year contract extension with Adelaide in July.[12]

In round 2, 2017, Jenkins suffered bruised ribs after a collision with Hawthorn player Teia Miles only 10 minutes into the game. He was unable to play the rest of the game,[13] and though he was expected to return the next week, he was eventually ruled out due to his injury being more serious than originally thought.[14] He returned to the side after his injury, but in round 9 he was dropped to the SANFL due to poor form. He returned to the senior side immediately in round 10 against Fremantle, and kicked three goals.[15] His form improved and he continued to add more facets to his game, managing 12 tackles in a hard-fought contest against Carlton in Round 15.[16] Against the Western Bulldogs in round 16, Jenkins kicked four goals and took 11 marks, helping to dominate along with captain Taylor Walker.[17] At the end of the season he played in the 2017 AFL Grand Final as part of the Crows' losing team.[18]

Geelong (2020–2021)

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He was traded to Geelong at the conclusion of the 2019 AFL season after requesting to leave Adelaide.[19]

Jenkins retired at the end of the 2021 AFL season after only managing to play two games in two years at Geelong.[20]

Statistics

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Statistics are correct to end of the 2021 season[21]
Legend
  G  
Goals
  K  
Kicks
  D  
Disposals 
  T  
Tackles
  B  
Behinds 
  H  
Handballs 
  M  
Marks
H/O
Hit-outs
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T H/O G B K H D M T H/O
2012 Adelaide 20 11 11 3 74 43 117 50 24 61 1.0 0.3 6.7 3.9 10.6 4.5 2.2 5.5 0
2013 Adelaide 4 17 24 24 142 59 201 78 29 61 1.4 1.4 8.4 3.5 11.8 4.6 1.7 3.6 0
2014 Adelaide 4 20 40 26 170 64 234 86 27 55 2.0 1.3 8.5 3.2 11.7 4.3 1.4 2.8 3
2015 Adelaide 4 21 46 21 173 68 241 108 28 79 2.2 1.0 8.2 3.2 11.5 5.1 1.3 3.8 3
2016 Adelaide 4 24 62 29 195 95 290 122 46 135 2.6 1.2 8.1 4.0 12.1 5.1 1.9 5.6 8
2017 Adelaide 4 21 45 22 189 88 277 110 52 109 2.1 1.1 9.0 4.2 13.2 5.2 2.5 5.2 2
2018 Adelaide 4 22 46 27 200 83 283 111 61 97 2.1 1.2 9.1 3.8 12.9 5.0 2.8 4.4 3
2019 Adelaide 4 11 22 17 100 36 136 56 18 68 2.0 1.5 9.1 3.3 12.4 5.1 1.6 6.2 0
2020[a] Geelong 11 1 0 0 8 6 14 3 4 7 0.0 0.0 8.0 6.0 14.0 3.0 4.0 7.0 0
2021 Geelong 11 1 0 2 5 3 8 2 2 3 0.0 2.0 5.0 3.0 8.0 2.0 2.0 3.0 0
Career 149 296 171 1256 545 1801 726 291 675 2.0 1.1 8.4 3.7 12.1 4.9 2.0 4.5 19

Notes

  1. ^ The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

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  1. ^ McCullagh-Beasy, Justine (26 July 2010). "Jenkins' GWS chance". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 4 March 2011.
  2. ^ "Bombers take Hibberd in pre-season draft". EFC.com.au. Essendon Football Club. 7 December 2010. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  3. ^ Milbank, Zac (14 November 2011). "How Crows won Jenkins over". The Advertiser.
  4. ^ "Day eight of 2011 AFL trade week looked at last-minute deals, Josh Caddy, Matthew Bate, Jordan Lisle". foxsports.com.au. Fox Sports. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  5. ^ Milbank, Zac (12 May 2012). "Josh Jenkins makes a mark in big time". Sunday Mail.
  6. ^ a b c d "Josh Jenkins - AFC.com.au". AFC.com.au. Adelaide Football Club. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  7. ^ Rucci, Michelangelo (11 February 2013). "Josh Jenkins steps into forward role vacated by Kurt Tippett". The Advertiser.
  8. ^ "Adelaide loses Josh Jenkins to ankle injury". The Age. 28 July 2013.
  9. ^ Earle, Richard (5 May 2014). "Josh Jenkins signs two-year contract extension with the Crows". The Advertiser.
  10. ^ Earle, Richard (8 May 2016). "Josh Jenkins' value as a power forward hitting new heights with his stellar form this season". The Advertiser.
  11. ^ Niall, Jake (24 May 2016). "Brisbane offers lucrative contract to Adelaide Crows forward Josh Jenkins". FoxSports.com.au. Fox Sports. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  12. ^ Earle, Richard (21 July 2016). "Josh Jenkins signs $550,000, five-year deal with Adelaide Crows". The Advertiser.
  13. ^ Fjeldstad, Jesper (2 April 2017). "Josh Jenkins a chance to play in Showdown despite hospital visit". The Advertiser.
  14. ^ "Update: Jenkins ruled out". AFC.com.au. Adelaide Football Club. 11 April 2017.
  15. ^ Gaskin, Lee (28 May 2017). "Mauling shows Crows are back on track: Pyke". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  16. ^ McGowan, Marc (1 July 2017). "Pyke sees positives in 'finals-style game'". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  17. ^ Gaskin, Lee (7 July 2017). "Match report: Crows' big win hurts tumbling Dogs". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  18. ^ Bowen, Nick (30 September 2017). "Match report: Terrific Tigers end 37-year wait". AFL.com.au. Bigpond. Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  19. ^ @AFL_House (16 October 2019). "Trade paperwork lodged: Adelaide..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  20. ^ Oates, Stacey (17 September 2021). "Jenkins Calls Time, Cats Cut Two". Geelong Cats. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  21. ^ "AFL Tables - Josh Jenkins statistics". AFL Tables.
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