IT WOULD be easy to write off 2010 as a year to forget for Port Adelaide, but young utility Jackson Trengove disagrees.

PTV: Jacko's Rise

And he would have every right to be happy with the world after earning a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination for his 23-disposal effort in his side’s narrow win over West Coast on Saturday night.

While victory is not a common feeling for Port Adelaide this season, Trengove said the signs are bright for the years to come.

“I think so. We’ve got plenty of young kids. On the weekend there were only one or two blokes who were over 27 years of age,” he said.

“We’re a side that is very young. We’ve got Matthew Broadbent who’s playing some good footy, Hamish Hartlett who’s injured but coming through. There’s Travis Boak who is a young star. We’ve got a lot of young blokes coming through and we’re a pretty close group so that will hold us in good stead for the future.”

Trengove is full of praise for fellow big man Matthew Primus who took over the coaching duties from Mark Williams mid-season.

Primus had previously worked closely with Trengove teaching him the fine art of ruck work.

“I did a fair bit of work with him early but since he got the senior job I haven’t been doing as much with him I’ve been doing more with Dean Brogan at the moment. When Brendon Lade was here I worked with him too,” he said.

“Matty’s done a fantastic job since he’s taken over. He brings a different aspect to the players and the coaching panel. For us it has been pretty positive.

“We’ve won three of our last five games and we’ve been getting some games together. There is plenty of youth going through. If we can keep this up to the end of the year and win the last few games that would be perfect for us.”

Trengove has become an everywhere man for the Power in his 16 games so far this year and that was never more evident than on the weekend when he had to alternate between doing a defensive job on Quentin Lynch and relieving Dean Brogan in the ruck against Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui.

“I’ve been doing a fair bit of work with the back line and the forwards as well. I’m in a bit of everyone’s group at the moment and I’m trying to develop my game in every area possible.”

Trengove was drafted by Port Adelaide with its second round pick (22 overall) in the 2008 NAB AAFL Draft.