FORMER Adelaide Crows forward Trent Hentschel will join Port Adelaide in a joint administrative and development role in time for the 2015 season.

Hentschel, 32, was recruited to the Crows with pick No. 5 in the 2002 pre-season draft and eventually played 71 games until his injury-forced retirement in 2010.

He played in 2011 for Woodville-West Torrens and has since acted in a development role for the SANFL’s Eagles, currently as a league assistant coach and football manager.

Hentschel will act as a forward development coach with the Power, supporting fellow Adelaide alumnus-turned-Power forwards coach Tyson Edwards.

Additionally, he will work as the game day forwards line coach for Port Adelaide’s SANFL League side, working under senior coach Garry Hocking and alongside fellow development-cum-SANFL line coaches Stuart Cochrane (backs) and Jacob Surjan (midfield).

Port Adelaide’s general manager of football Chris Davies told portadelaidefc.com.au the acquisition of Hentschel into a joint coaching-administrative role was essential to the club completing its coaching line up.

“With Trent coming into this role, we now have a full team of development coaches supporting our head line coaches,” Davies said.

“Trent was a talented footballer at AFL level and his experience working back from several injuries during his career means he’s got a real depth of experience of what players can deal with day-to-day in the industry.

“He’s done a great job with Woodville-West Torrens as an assistant coach for their league team and will be a great fit for us culturally and in a coaching sense too.

“Administratively, he’ll be assisting to manage the day-to-day needs of the footy department, which is another critical role.”

Hentschel will commence with Port Adelaide at the end of March.

Trent Hentschel football bio
Draft: Pick 5, 2002 Pre-Season Draft (to Adelaide Crows)
2002-2010: Adelaide Football Club, (71 games, 94 goals)
2011-present: Woodville-West Torrens league assistant (forwards), football manager