Stevens and Jenkins genuinely improve the team if they are fit and their heads are in it. Jenkins would have made a massive difference in the Prelim, significantly better forward than Henderson ever will be, and kicks more goals than Esava could. It means we actually have multiple key forwards who could kick 4+ goals in a match now, instead of relying on Hawk to kick 3 and see who else decides to bob up.
Means you have Hawkins at FF, Esava at CHF, and then you have Miers, Dahl and Atkins as your small pressure forwards. Having Jenkins down there, especially when Esava is in the ruck while Stanley gets a breather, means we keep our structure of two marking talls. Add in that Jenkins is insanely mobile for a big guy and we don't lose too much.
And as I said else where, we NEVER seem to get Joe the goose goals. Other teams get those easy goals. We now have a player who is good for a good chunk of those each season because of his work rate. How good would one of those been when the match was tight last year in any of those finals when it was close?
Means you have Hawkins at FF, Esava at CHF, and then you have Miers, Dahl and Atkins as your small pressure forwards. Having Jenkins down there, especially when Esava is in the ruck while Stanley gets a breather, means we keep our structure of two marking talls. Add in that Jenkins is insanely mobile for a big guy and we don't lose too much.
And as I said else where, we NEVER seem to get Joe the goose goals. Other teams get those easy goals. We now have a player who is good for a good chunk of those each season because of his work rate. How good would one of those been when the match was tight last year in any of those finals when it was close?