Jack Trengove surprised at his call-up for Port Adelaide debut as Power lose key duo Tom Jonas and Darcy Byrne-Jones for Carlton clash

FORMER Melbourne captain Jack Trengove will make a fairytale return to the AFL for Port Adelaide on Saturday — and he wants to pay back Power coach Ken Hinkley for the faith shown in him. See the moment Trengove learns of the news here.

• In-demand Polec `will stay at Port’: Ebert
• Bickley: The reason Power has edge on Crows
• Port cautious on avoiding let-down
• Running deep: The bond driving our star siblings
• AFL Daily: All the latest news and views

JACK Trengove is back in the AFL — and the former Melbourne captain wants to repay the faith shown in him by Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley offering an unexpected lifeline in last year’s trade period.

Trengove will play his first AFL game in 11 months in the Power’s clash with Carlton at his former home ground, the MCG, on Saturday.

And Trengove, 26, wants the game to count — and lead to more AFL games with Port Adelaide.

Jack Trengove will make his AFL debut for Port Adelaide on Saturday after strong form in the SANFL. Picture Sarah Reed

“It’s nice to get a bit of reward to play a senior game and represent Port Adelaide,” Trengove said on Thursday. “But at the same time, I’m not here just to play one (AFL game). I want to really contribute and really help out where I can.”

Trengove earned his call-up to AFL duty after being an emergency to many Power line-ups this season. He replaces young defender Darcy Byrne-Jones in the Port Adelaide 22 after “DBJ” was dropped for disciplinary reasons for being tardy to training at Alberton on Monday.

“(I want to) make sure that I’m not just coming in to fill a gap, but to have an influence on the game,” Trengove said.

“I just want to repay Kenny and the other coaches and my teammates for the faith that they’ve shown in me and get the job done on the weekend.”

The No. 2 pick in the 2009 draft — leaving the SANFL with Sturt to be a Demon — will be one of two changes to the Port Adelaide line-up that also recalls defender Jack Hombsch to replace fellow defender Tom Jonas (hamstring).

Trengove joined Port Adelaide as a delisted player in the October trade period when Hinkley wanted the South Australian to be a “Monday to Friday” player at Alberton. There was no promise of regular AFL action.

Until meeting Hinkley at his Adelaide home last year, Trengove thought his AFL career was closed at 86 games with Melbourne from 2010-2017.

“At the end of last year, when I got delisted by Melbourne,” said Trengove, “you’re sort of sitting there waiting for a club to come knocking just in hope.

“I sort of sat there with Kenny and we spoke about how opportunities were going to be hard to come by here. But (Ken added) if I go away and do all the right things and perform consistently that there’s no reason why you can’t get a crack at it.

“We’ve got a pretty strong midfield here and I was essentially picked up as a bit of back-up, in case there was some injuries and things like that which was the reality of it.

“But Kenny did say that if you do show us you that you truly deserve a spot in the side then we’ll be willing to give it to you so I just went away and worked to that and tried to help the young boys in the Maggies at the same time.”

Tom Jonas walks laps at Power training this week. He will miss the Carlton game with a recurrence of a hamstring injury. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

Darcy Byrne-Jones celebrates a goal with Justin Westhoff against Melbourne. He has been stood down for being late for training. Picture Sarah Reed

Trengove was surprised by Hinkley’s call to add him to the AFL 22 this week.

“I wasn’t really expecting it,” Trengove said.

“We’ve had a few good performances from a Port Adelaide point of view, but when Kenny came and gave me the tap on the shoulder and said your opportunity has finally come I was over the moon.

“Just super excited to get out there and try to do my bit and represent Port for the first time.”

Trengove will be playing his first AFL game since late July 2017 when he represented Melbourne against North Melbourne.

He now has no regret in staying in the AFL system after having his patience tested by a serious foot injury in 2015.

“I’ve loved every second of (my time at Port Adelaide),” Trengove said. “It’s like the first day of school all over again coming to a new club and meeting new people.

“The guys here and everyone in the whole footy club is so kind and have been amazing support for me.

“I’ve just enjoyed a new environment, a new set of eyes looking at me, new people to talk to and I’m literally bouncing into the footy club each day just loving every second of it.”

[e-mail]

Watch every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. SIGN UP NOW >