PORT ADELAIDE midfielder Jack Trengove says he wasn’t expecting to make his club debut against Carlton this weekend, but now that he has his opportunity in the senior side he doesn’t want to give it up.

Trengove arrived at Alberton in the 2017 trade period as a delisted free agent.

The former Melbourne captain was starved of opportunity with the Demons as injury and bad luck restricted him to just seven games since 2013.

He was told yesterday by coach Ken Hinkley that he would play on Saturday, which caught him off guard.

“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 has earnt his spot in the AFL side after impressive form in the SANFL.

The 26-year-old knew his opportunities would be limited with the Power and admitted he thought his AFL career was over at the end of 2017.

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

“I sort of sat there with Kenny and we spoke about how opportunities were going to be hard to come by here but 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.”

Trengove’s last AFL game was in Round 19 last year.

And while he hasn’t been in Port Adelaide’s AFL team, he has enjoyed his fresh start in his home state.

“I’ve loved every second of it. It’s like the first day of school all over again coming to a new club and meeting new people,” Trengove said.

“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.”

Trengove is now looking to play a role against the Blues to help his team to a fourth straight victory.

“I guess I’ve been performing pretty consistently and I suppose that chance has come so 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.

“And try to make sure that I’m not just coming in to fill a gap but to have an influence on the game.

“It’s nice to get a bit of reward to play a senior game and represent Port but at the same time I’m not here just to play one, I want to really contribute and really help out where I can.” 

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