Port Adelaide’s Mr Fixit Jackson Trengove could face an AFL free-agency dilemma

PORT Adelaide utility Jackson Trengove may get an offer he cannot refuse - but wants to ignore - in the AFL free agency market.

BLEEDING TEAL ... Port Adelaide utility Jackson Trengove is a restricted free agent who will draw much interest in the market this year, but may want to ignore big offers to stay with the Power. Picture: Michael Willson (Getty Images)

PORT Adelaide utility Jackson Trengove is about to learn AFL free agency does not always work to the players’ best interests.

Trengove is one of two free agents at Alberton, along with running defender Jasper Pittard.

Trengove, 26, will command significant interest from rival AFL clubs, in particular Melbourne in his home city.

And losing the restricted free agent could offer - by the AFL compensation system in free agency - the much-needed draft picks the Power could not engineer last year when it asked then vice-captain Hamish Hartlett to look at his options around the league.

And with Dougal Howard and Billy Frampton to progress in ruck and forward roles at Alberton, Port Adelaide may also be reluctant to get in a bidding war for Trengove.

Trengove’s case is further complicated by his status as the player who ignored the dark doomsday clouds at Alberton to sign a contract in 2012 when many predicted a player exodus at Port Adelaide.

Five years on, Trengove has more reason to believe in staying at Port Adelaide - unless the Demons, Essendon or North Melbourne make him a deal he simply cannot refuse and the Power will not match.

Trengove on Monday - true to the ways of free agent - ignored a public debate on his future. But the 142-game Trengove was more vocal - and assertive - on how he has a sense of belonging at Port Adelaide.

“We will wait and see,” Trengove told The Advertiser on Monday.

“I’m not thinking anything at the moment,” added Trengove as Port Adelaide prepares to unlock its nine-week blackout on any contract talks at Alberton.

“Our club has made a fair statement that they are waiting to now or the next couple of weeks to pick up on signing players. When they get that ball rolling, they’ll obviously have a chat to my manager - and they will sort it out from there.

“I’m sure my manager and the club will have a chat ... in the next coming weeks. The club will start cranking that up - with 17 other players.”

Trengove joined Port Adelaide as an Essendon fan as a second-round call (No. 22) in the 2008 AFL national draft. Despite his first four seasons at Alberton being the club’s most difficult on and off the field, he set the agenda of the players standing together to rebuild the Power.

That commitment to Port Adelaide becomes complicated by the free agency market that could deliver Trengove a contract that would not have emerged without his free-agent status.

Trengove says he has not changed his views on Port Adelaide.

“I am very happy with our football club,” he said. “And what they have done for me over the journey. It has been huge.

“I’ve stuck by them at the same time.”

Trengove does not hide how - as a Victorian brought up on watching a rival club - he has become a Port Adelaide devotee.

“I love the footy club,” he said. “And we are in a really strong position as a playing group. That is what excites me.

“We stuck around when most of the blokes could have left and gone back to Melbourne to play their footy. There is something special about this footy club. It has a lot of history that is engraved in the players - and that is pretty special too.

“My family has grown up around this footy club now. Being Essendon supporters, Port Adelaide was never on their mind. But it is a club that is loving and caring for families - and it cares about its players.

“We could not ask for anything better at this football club.”

Trengove on Monday chose not to revisit the events outside a Glenelg nightclub where he was hit twice while helping a woman who was being harassed. He was subjected to how he was portrayed in the media - and social media - before both the club and SA Police declared Trengove had behaved appropriately before security guards intervened.

“It’s done and it’s four weeks ago and all forgotten,” Trengove said. “It’s old news now. That’s gone.”

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Originally published as Port Adelaide’s Mr Fixit Jackson Trengove could face an AFL free-agency dilemma