Geelong recruiting and list manager Stephen Wells believes the recruitment of Josh Jenkins will create hot competition in the Cats forward 50 next season.
The Adelaide forward and ruck landed at the club after Geelong sent selection 37 in the 2019 national draft to the Crows in exchange for Jenkins and a 2020 third round selection.
“We’ve got a good forward line but the experience that a player like Josh has got, if he’s playing at his best, will provide great competition for spots in our forward line,” Wells said.
“He’s got to have a big summer and there will be plenty of people trying to get his spot and he’ll be trying to get theirs.”
The move became possible on the final day of the trade period, when Zac Smith’s move to the Suns left the Cats with another list spot to work with.
Jenkins received a strong endorsement from close friend and club vice-captain Patrick Dangerfield, but Wells said the decision ultimately came down to what Jenkins offered on field.
View this post on InstagramWelcome to Geelong Josh ⚪️ Jenkins will wear the blue and white in 2020 #StandProud #WeAreGeelong
"We in the end had to make a list management decision, it wasn’t about Patrick being great friends with Josh. It was what we thought could help our club and what was available from other clubs.
“Patrick was certainly someone we talked to about Josh and he is a good mate of Josh.
“At his age and with what he’s been able to do in AFL footy so far, we’re hoping he can do that again for us in 2020,” Wells said.
