3 minute read

Adelaide coach Don Pyke says the form of stalwarts Josh Jenkins and Bryce Gibbs isn't good enough to earn AFL selection for the game against West Coast.

Adelaide coach Don Pyke is adamant Josh Jenkins has a future at the club despite being snubbed for AFL selection for a sixth consecutive week.

And Pyke admits veteran Bryce Gibbs is frustrated at again being dumped by the Crows.

Pyke says the form of the high-paid duo isn't consistent enough to warrant selection for Saturday's Adelaide Oval fixture against West Coast.

Jenkins, who in 2016 signed a five-year contract extension believed to be worth about $600,000 a season, was overlooked despite kicking six goals in state league ranks last weekend.

His continued non-selection has some pundits rating the key forward a potential trade target but Pyke says Jenkins "most definitely" has a future at Adelaide.

"He came back and played some really good footy last week and we were really happy with what he did," Pyke told reporters on Friday.

"His movement was really good, he jumped at the ball really strongly, it was a great sign."

But Pyke opted to keep the faith in Jenkins' replacement Elliott Himmelberg, who struggled last weekend with just six possessions in his sixth AFL game.

"In fairness to Elliott ... he didn't perform to the level he wanted to last week and we give him another opportunity," Pyke said.

Gibbs was dropped collecting 22 disposals and kicking two goals in Adelaide's one-point loss to Brisbane last week.

The 259-gamer, who was recruited from Carlton at the end of the 2017 season on a big-dollar contract, was also dumped after round three and has also battled a back complaint.

Pyke said inconsistent form, not injury, was behind Gibbs' omission but refused detail specific problem areas.

"He is frustrated and disappointed and I expect that," Pyke said.

"It's in other areas of his game - his numbers and some of the things he did last week we were really happy with.

"But he has got some areas of his game that he knows he needs to work on ... the reality is, those things shouldn't be as big an issue as they are if we can get some consistency."

Pyke said the reasons for Gibbs' inconsistency in such areas was unknown.

"He has been able to do them but just not on a consistent basis and that is what we're working on," he said.

"The why is probably out there somewhere in the ether."