New Port Adelaide defender Jack Trengove has one burning ambition to fulfil this AFL season
NEW Port Adelaide defender - and former Melbourne captain - Jack Trengove has made it back to the AFL after a shocking run with injury. Now he is motivated to complete his football dream in September
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HAVING re-ignited his AFL dream, new Port Adelaide defender Jack Trengove is in a hurry to fulfil one lingering ambition - to play in September’s top-eight finals.
“I’ve been in the AFL for nine years now - and never played a final,” Trengove told The Advertiser on Tuesday. “That is my ongoing motivation.”
Trengove, who was destined for the AFL scrapheap after 86 games when delisted by Melbourne in October, justified Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley’s gamble in the 2009 No. 2 draftee with his return to the AFL on Saturday against Carlton at the MCG.
Hinkley’s lifeline to Trengove, 26, came as the Demons lost patience with their former captain who had his AFL journey wrecked by a foot injury - a break in the navicular bone - after the first two games on Season 2014. He missed all of the 2015 season and played just seven AFL games in last three years at Melbourne.
As re-assuring as his work was against the Blues, Trengove will remain on the edge this week as Hinkley considers growing options at selection for Saturday’s home clash with also-ran St Kilda at Adelaide Oval.
“I am in a very competitive team and a competitive club, so I have to make the most of every opportunity that comes my way,” Trengove said. “If another chance comes this week, I will be trying to make the most of it.”
Trengove on Saturday played his first AFL game in 11 months - and just his eighth since the end of the 2013 season when the foot injury came from an “overload” at training at Melbourne.
The return to AFL action followed a 15-week sequence in which Trengove became tagged as Port Adelaide’s “eternal emergency” chalking up significant frequent flyer points but no game while travelling across Australia and to China.
His performance gave the Power reason to think of Trengove as more than a back-up player and mentor for its young troops at Alberton - and released Trengove from whatever uncertainty had been created by his time in football’s cruel wilderness.
“There’s always going to be elements of doubt until you get back to playing AFL,” Trengove said.
“I was nervous because it had been a while,” added Trengove who last played for Melbourne on July 29 at Hobart against North Melbourne. “And I wanted to do my (new) team-mates and coaches proud - and show them I am capable at this level.
“Now that I have that real inner belief that I do deserve to be at this level, I just want to make sure I can stay in the AFL team.
“That doubt also motivates you - if anything, you want to prove all the doubters that I do still belong at this level. That has helped the motivation.
Trengove at the weekend played his 54th game at the MCG - more than eight years after the first in 2010 in the AFL opening round in which he chalked up 23 touches against Hawthorn.
“I’d have to say I was more nervous the first time,” Trengove said. “But I appreciate more on the 54th time at the MCG. First time, everything was going well - and I had not hit too many speed bumps.
“Now I relish every opportunity - and intend to make the most of it.
“I was probably more excited for my 54th game at the MCG anyway.”
michelangelo.rucci@news.com.au
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