Trent Hentschel
Encyclopedia
Trent Hentschel was an Australian rules football
er in the Australian Football League
. He was taken in the 2002 Pre-season Draft at pick No.5. He is a very talented forward known for his excellent strong marking, but suffered a severe knee injury in 2006.
, failing to pick up a kick in his first game (finished with one handball). In total, Hentschel had 19 disposals with an average of just over six for the season, kicking just two points.
In 2004
, Hentschel started well playing his first 14 games. He kicked a four goal haul over at Subiaco Oval
against West Coast
, and consistently was able to pick up more than ten disposals a match. He then had a few small injuries, that kept him out for four matches. He averaged 11 disposals for the season, and kicked 16 goals.
. He had a slow start to the year, kicking 3 goals against Collingwood
before missing five games. He finished the year strongly though, playing in all three of Adelaide's finals. He played 21 matches in the year, averaging 12 disposals, 5 marks and kicking 26 goals.
The 2006 season was arguably Hentschel's best in the AFL, kicking a career high 42 goals for the year, including an 8 goal match against Essendon
. However, during the third quarter of the Showdown
against Port Adelaide
, Hentschel's ACL was torn and his kneecap was dislocated and pushed inwards when Matt Thomas fell on it. Hentschel was then taken off the ground on a stretcher. The injury was compared with one suffered in a motor vehicle accident, as well as to that suffered by a NBA basketballer, Shaun Livingston
(although Livingston's was much worse).http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/08/28/1156617275506.html
Hentschel had finally recovered from all injuries by 2009 and had a successful return in the pre-season competition before making his official comeback in Round 1 of the 2009 AFL season against Collingwood. Unforunately, the stress of playing and training fully competitively again cause his knee to swell up requiring further surgery. He returned successfully in Round 20, with a 4 goal haul against Hawthorn.
Hentschel played out the rest of the season without any injuries, including in the Crows' two finals. He kicked a total of 6 goals in 4 games. The following year he returned to the line-up for the start of the season and went goaless until round 3 when swelling in his knee once again forced him out of the match. Sadly, Hentschel was unable to make a return to football owing to his bad knee and retired towards the end of 2010.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. He was taken in the 2002 Pre-season Draft at pick No.5. He is a very talented forward known for his excellent strong marking, but suffered a severe knee injury in 2006.
2003-2004: Development
Debuting for Adelaide in 2003 as a 20 year old, Hentschel took his time to adapt to the speed of AFL Football. He played just three games in the 2003 season2003 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2003.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-National Cup:...
, failing to pick up a kick in his first game (finished with one handball). In total, Hentschel had 19 disposals with an average of just over six for the season, kicking just two points.
In 2004
2004 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2004.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-Wizard Home Loans Cup:The Wizard Home Loans Cup Final saw St...
, Hentschel started well playing his first 14 games. He kicked a four goal haul over at Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval , known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia...
against West Coast
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
, and consistently was able to pick up more than ten disposals a match. He then had a few small injuries, that kept him out for four matches. He averaged 11 disposals for the season, and kicked 16 goals.
2005-2006: Rise And Fall
Hentschel started to stand up and become a strong marking forward for Adelaide in 20052005 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2005.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-National Cup:...
. He had a slow start to the year, kicking 3 goals against Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
before missing five games. He finished the year strongly though, playing in all three of Adelaide's finals. He played 21 matches in the year, averaging 12 disposals, 5 marks and kicking 26 goals.
The 2006 season was arguably Hentschel's best in the AFL, kicking a career high 42 goals for the year, including an 8 goal match against Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
. However, during the third quarter of the Showdown
Showdown (AFL)
The Showdown is a term used to refer to the derby match between local rivals the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide in the sport of Australian rules football in the Australian Football League .-Background:...
against Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
, Hentschel's ACL was torn and his kneecap was dislocated and pushed inwards when Matt Thomas fell on it. Hentschel was then taken off the ground on a stretcher. The injury was compared with one suffered in a motor vehicle accident, as well as to that suffered by a NBA basketballer, Shaun Livingston
Shaun Livingston
Shaun Patrick Livingston is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks.-Early years:Livingston was born in Peoria, Illinois. He led Concordia Lutheran Grade School, coached by Mr. Tom Ruppert, to LSA state titles in 1999 and 2000...
(although Livingston's was much worse).http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/08/28/1156617275506.html
2007-2009: Recovery
Surgery to repair Hentschel's damaged knee was carried out in February 2007 after the knee had healed sufficiently to undergo a knee reconstruction on the ACL. A full year of rehabilitation involving bike riding, swimming and gym work saw Trent up and about later in 2007.http://afc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=316546 2008 was marked as the return season for Hentschel but numerous niggling injuries throughout the year ruled him out for the season.Hentschel had finally recovered from all injuries by 2009 and had a successful return in the pre-season competition before making his official comeback in Round 1 of the 2009 AFL season against Collingwood. Unforunately, the stress of playing and training fully competitively again cause his knee to swell up requiring further surgery. He returned successfully in Round 20, with a 4 goal haul against Hawthorn.
Hentschel played out the rest of the season without any injuries, including in the Crows' two finals. He kicked a total of 6 goals in 4 games. The following year he returned to the line-up for the start of the season and went goaless until round 3 when swelling in his knee once again forced him out of the match. Sadly, Hentschel was unable to make a return to football owing to his bad knee and retired towards the end of 2010.