Mark Bickley has laughed off comments made by his former Crow teammate and all-time great Wayne Carey that Josh Jenkins is nothing more than a “third or fourth stringer” who kicks easy goals.
During the week Carey said Jenkins only attracted an opponent’s third or fourth best defender and “half his goals have been Joe the goose’s”.
He shot down suggestions the Crow could be recruited to another club to become its key forward.
“If he thinks he’s going to go another club, or another club thinks he will be the messiah and go there and be the main target for their footy club, that is totally wrong.
“He is not that type of player,” Carey said. “He’s a third or fourth stringer.”
Bicks dismissed the comments, saying if Jenkins continued scoring at his current rate – 23 goals from seven games – he would be a strong contender to win the Coleman medal.
“70 goals nearly wins you the Coleman,” Bicks said. “He’s going all right at the moment.”
Bicks estimated Jenkins’ current market value to be about $600,000 a year.
“The Crows would think this is exorbitant, but he could probably command $600,000 a year right now,” he said.
Asked if the Crows would pay that, Bicks said: “That’s probably why it hasn’t happened. He’s said he wants to stay.”
Bicks named Fremantle, Essendon and Carlton as clubs who would be interested in Jenkins’ services.
“They would all have feelers out there, and they have the money.”
