'Hungry' Hentschel finds form at the right time

ADELAIDE forward Trent Hentschel admits there were times he feared his first finals series would be his last.

Hentschel, 26, reached a preliminary final with the Crows in 2005 and was hoping to go one better in 2006 when his knee collapsed beneath him just two weeks out from the start of September.

As his teammates prepared for a home final Hentschel underwent the first of four operations to repair the damage to his knee, which surgeons described as being more consistent with a car crash victim than a football injury.

He was resigned to watching the club's qualifying final win over Fremantle from his hospital bed, but further lifted the team's spirits when he appeared in the change-rooms on crutches before the preliminary final loss to West Coast.

The Crows led the Eagles by four goals early in the second quarter and Hentschel's thoughts started to turn to the following week and just what he might be missing out on.

"We finished second that year. We were in a really good position at half time and it looked like we were going to get into a grand final. I remember being really excited for the boys, but at the same time I wanted to be out there and it was frustrating to watch," Hentschel said.

"It was disappointing to lose that game and I know some of the boys see that year as a lost opportunity."

Hentschel spent 18 months on the sidelines and watched two more failed finals attempts before making his AFL return in round one this year.

Unfortunately, his comeback was derailed a week later when his troublesome knee filled with fluid early in the game against St Kilda.

He underwent two more minor procedures and spent three weeks in the SANFL before being recalled for just his third game of the year against Hawthorn in round 20.

Now, he's on the verge of creating history with the Crows in his second finals campaign, which begins with Friday night's do-or-die clash with Essendon.

"The whole way through my rehabilitation I doubted I could ever get back here (playing and playing finals), but I’m glad we've made it and there's a really good feeling around the club at the moment," Hentschel said.

"I’m really excited because I haven't played finals since 2005 and it will probably be the biggest crowd I've played in front of since I've been back."

Hentschel, who finished second in the club's goalkicking in 2006, has booted 8.5 in his last three games.

Coach Neil Craig said his "hungry" forward had started to recapture his form of three years ago.

"The thing I've liked about Trent over the last two or three weeks is that he's been very aggressive," Craig said.

"In the last quarter last week, he chased down a Carlton player from behind. When he first started playing earlier in the year, I don't think he would have done that because he was holding back a little bit.

"Now he's prepared to say, 'Here we go, if the body holds up it holds up and if it doesn't I've answered another question'."

Hentschel is yet to be offered a contract for next season, though his setbacks have helped him understand the fragile nature of his career.

"Given where I've come from, off a long-term injury you can't afford to even look past that day's training session really," he said.

"But playing the last six or seven games has given me a lot of confidence. My body hasn't felt this good for a long time and if I can get through a few more games it will give the club and myself a fair bit of confidence that my body can cope."