JACKSON TRENGOVE is free to move to Whitten Oval as a free agent, after Port Adelaide today declined to match a contract offer put forward by the Western Bulldogs.

The 26-year-old has played 153 games since joining the Power with pick 22 in the 2008 National Draft.

Winning the Gavin Wanganeen Medal as the club’s best player under 21 in 2010, a year spent seeing plenty of ball in defence in 2011 saw the young Trengove tie with Travis Boak to win the John Cahill Medal.

A member of Port’s leadership group, Trengove was moved from his traditional defensive post in 2016 to cover the absence of Paddy Ryder in the ruck, and this year played primarily as a forward.

The Western Bulldogs lodged paperwork to secure Trengove on Friday morning, with the Power given a three-day period to match the offer.

Port Adelaide's list manager Jason Cripps said the club wished Trengove well with the rest of his career with the Bulldogs.

“Like all big men, Jackson took a little time to find his feet at the elite level, but by his second season he was a regular in AFL side and in his third year he won the John Cahill Medal,” Cripps told portadelaidefc.com.au.

“Jackson is a natural leader and those qualities shone from the moment he arrived.

“We’ll always be indebted to Jackson for the leadership he showed in 2012, choosing to stand by the club and his teammates at a time when Port Adelaide was struggling in a lot of areas.

“Jackson has been offered a great opportunity by the Western Bulldogs.

“It’s a difficult part of this industry that sometimes you have to say goodbye to great people.

“Jackson has made countless friendships at Port Adelaide that will remain strong. He’ll always be welcome back at Alberton.”