Trengove might miss next AFL season

Former Melbourne captain Jack Trengove is determined to continue his AFL career, despite conceding he might not play at all next season.

The midfielder’s lower left leg is in a cast for eight weeks after he had more surgery to repair fresh damage to the navicular bone.

Trengove only played the first two rounds of this season before the problem flared.

Melbourne looked at trading him to Richmond earlier this month, but the deal was called off when a routine medical screening showed the fresh damage to the bone.

He underwent surgery on Wednesday, with existing screws removed and a bone graft used instead on the injury.

“It’s the second time around I’ve done it now … it’s important not to put a timeline on it, because you don’t want to rush back into things,” Trengove said.

“So who knows – I don’t really mind if I don’t get back and play (by) the end of next year.

“It’s just a matter of getting it back, fit and healthy, before I go again.

“We’ll wait and see, anything could happen.

“But I’m willing to write off next year if that’s what has to happen.”

The 23-year-old has played 81 games for the Demons since his 2010 debut and is determined to return to senior football.

“That’s the biggest motivating factor for me at the moment, is that I know I’m capable of a lot more than what I’ve produced over the last few years,” Trengove said.

“I feel if I can get my foot right, I will be right and ready to go.”

But Trengove also knows that for now, his biggest test will be staying patient.

“It (recovery) will be more conservative, even though we were pretty conservative last time,” he said.

“It’s going to be a lot of boring time ahead for me, sitting on the coach especially in the next month or so.

“But it’s all a part of it.”

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