Why Jackson Trengove wanted to represent the Western Bulldogs at AFL’s Indigenous All Star Summit in Adelaide next week

Jackson Trengove was one of the “brothers” at Port Adelaide and would even wear a special pair of indigeKJnous coloured Speedo’s under his footy shorts on game day.

So when he was asked whether he would represent his new club the Western Bulldogs — which is the only team in the AFL without an Aboriginal player currently on its list — at next week’s Indigenous All Stars Summit he didn’t think twice.

With the blessing of his coach Luke Beveridge, Trengove will return to Adelaide on Sunday for the four-day summit hosted by his old club Port Adelaide.

He will be joined by the Bulldogs’ indigenous programs manager Brett Goodes and player welfare officer Brent Prismall after their club launched its first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) last year.

“I used to get invited to the brothers’ dinners at Port and to have that interaction and insight with them was great for me,” Trengove said.

“I’m big on creating that environment that we are one, and I used to do a lot of work with the indigenous boys on the list and with Pauly (Vandenbergh) around cultural awareness through our game.

“At the Doggies we don’t have anyone (indigenous player) currently listed but the club is making big inroads in the Aboriginal space with the RAP program and the work Goodesy is doing.

“So when Pauly reached out to me about the summit I said I’d be honoured and privileged to represent the Western Bulldogs and I’m really excited about learning even more about Aboriginal culture.”

He will be joined by the Bulldogs’ indigenous programs manager Brett Goodes and player welfare officer Brent Prismall after their club launched its first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) last year.

Trengove left Port Adelaide after 153 games to join the Western Bulldogs at the end of 2017 but is still in contact with his former teammates.

“Sammy Powell-Pepper is one of my good mates and so is Paddy (Ryder),” Trengove said.

“And Jars (Jarman Impey) and Chad (Wingard) have both left (Port) but they’re in Melbourne now and are at my house every couple of days so it’s been good to catch up.”