Trent Hentschel reflects on his eight-goal bag against Essendon as the Crows recorded their highest ever score
It was a night of celebration for the Adelaide Crows as Andrew McLeod celebrated his 250th game for the club. Yet, it was Trent Hentschel who stole the show with eight goals in a mammoth win.
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It may have been Andrew McLeod’s 250th game for the Adelaide Crows, but it was a long-haired assassin in just his 51st appearance who stole the show.
Trent Hentschel snagged eight majors as the Crows smashed the Bombers by 138 points on a Friday night at Football Park – the second highest win in their history.
Unfortunately the forward only played 20 more games as injuries cruelled his career, but he looks back on that night with fond memories.
“It was a pretty special night for him (McLeod), his family and the club,” he said.
“We had a really good forward line at that stage, with blokes like Mark Ricciuto, who was playing down forward at the end of his career, Brett Burton, Ken McGregor – it was a pretty good forward line to play with.
“I think we complimented each other in that forward line and we were fairly team-oriented.
“We all had built a fairly good chemistry over the previous few years and went pretty well as a team in 2005 and 2006 albeit didn’t quite make a grand final or get what we wanted.
“We still felt like it was a fairly successful period.”
Remarkably, Hentschel had kicked four goals to three-quarter-time, and then put the foot down with a four-goal blitz in the first eight minutes of the final quarter.
“I’d be lying if I said you don’t count along the way,” he joked.
“As I said, we had a good forward line which made it enjoyable and had a really good win in McLeod’s 250th.
“I can’t remember three-quarter-time in great detail to be honest, but I think by then the game was well and truly over and we were on top.
“We kicked a few goals in that final quarter.”
Despite dominating the game with eight goals, the modest Hentschel said the focus post-game was still on McLeod.
“The focus was definitely on ‘Bunji’, it was certainly his night and given his stature within the club and the game, he went on to play a fair few more games than 250, but he certainly had the spotlight that night and played really well himself,” he said.
Hentschel finished his career with 94 goals in 71 games for the Crows, but said he’s not certain where the Bombers win ranks.
“I haven’t thought a lot about it,” he said.
“Obviously 1997 and 1998 they did achieve the ultimate, in 2005 and 2006 we didn’t get there, West Coast both years – over there in 2005 and at home in the prelim in 2006 – were our nemesis.
“We had some decent battles with them.
“But any big win you remember … especially at home, again I loved AAMI Stadium atmosphere.
“That game along with some Showdown wins and some wins in finals, they’re some of the better games you remember.”
Fast forward 14 years and Hentschel is still involved with AFL football, albeit with the Crows’ cross-town rival, Port Adelaide.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic hitting the AFL hard, the former Crow has been one of the staff stood down.
However, he’s found the positives during one of the hardest times the game has ever faced.
“Obviously most of the footy department has been stood down other than a few,” he said.
“I’ve been making the most of having some time with the three kids at home, they keep me reasonably busy.
“It’s good to be able to spend some time with them.
“Port have been great, Kenny (Hinkley) and Chris Davies have done a great job keeping us in the loop and letting us know as much info as they get hold of.
“They’ve been open and honest along the whole way.
“We’re like most, just watching the news and keeping up to date that way.”