DRAFTEE Jackson Trengove could play for Port Adelaide Magpies' reserves side this weekend in what would be his first game of football since suffering a career-threatening hamstring injury nearly 10 months ago.
Trengove, 18, was touted as a top 10 prospect ahead of last year's NAB AFL Draft, but slipped through to the Power at selection 22.
After tearing his hamstring from the bone in a Vic Metro training session in June, Trengove had surgery to reattach the tendons but suffered another setback when his foot became limp.
The Calder Cannon had surgery again to discover that the nerve had been bruised rather than cut and was expected to make a full recovery.
Placed on the long-term injury list shortly after arriving at Port Adelaide, Trengove was gradually eased into training and recently joined his teammates for full sessions.
Coach Mark Williams said he was excited by the opportunity to see Trengove play his first game since arriving at the club.
"Everything that we see from (first-round draft pick) Hamish Hartlett, Jackson has got too," Williams told portadelaidefc.com.au.
"He’s got that intensity and that desire. He wants to be something and it won’t be a lack of trying on his part that stops him."
Williams said the club's support staff had played a crucial role in Trengove's comeback from his injury.
"The doctors and physios have spent countless hours looking after him and then our fitness staff—Cam Falloon, Andrew Lulham and David Arnfield—have done the work to get him back ready to play," Williams said.
"The coaching staff have been good in being easy on him. We didn’t want to create too much anxiety for him, being a high draft pick, but at the same time his work ethic and belief in himself has helped get him to where he is.
"Hopefully now he can move forward because it’s been a pretty dark time for him. His confidence is not completely there given that he’s spent a long time out of the game and is coming back from a major injury, but I think he’ll only grow from here."