JACK Trengove says it was an “amazing feeling” when coach Paul Roos and captain Nathan Jones told him at Gosch’s Paddock on Thursday that he was in the round 11 side and would line-up against Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday.
Trengove, who has not played an AFL match since round two, 2014, after he suffered a debilitating foot injury, said Melbourne had given him great support throughout his journey.
“The club has been such a fantastic support for me. I’ve been out for two whole years and it’d be pretty easy for them to lose sight of a player and just push them to the side, but they’ve helped me along … as a player and an individual as well,” he said.
“The support staff around the place has been fantastic, along with the supporters out there and all of the people who have been in my corner.
“When Roosy and Nathan Jones finally said that I was played this weekend, I was certainly very excited and it seemed like all of the boys were as well.”
Trengove said Roos had regularly checked on him throughout his rehab.
“That’s the greatest thing about Roosy, in this whole situation, he’s always been there, talking along the way and seeing where I’m at – and where the team is at,” he said.
“It would’ve been stupid of me to think I could’ve played at AFL level four weeks ago.
“From a management point of view, it’s been really good.”
Trengove said when he first got the foot injury he never envisaged he would be sidelined for more than two years.
“When I first went down with the injury, I certainly didn’t think it was going to be that long again until I got the chance to have a crack at it again,” he said.
“You certainly reflect back to all of the tough times you went through, but no doubt there are things you learn along the way as well.
“They’ve held me in good stead and it will continue to for the future, but it’s going to be hard to wipe the smile off my face in the next few days.”