Debuting for Adelaide in 2003 as a 20-year-old, Hentschel took his time to adapt to the speed of AFL Football. He played just three games in the 2003 season, failing to pick up a kick in his first game. In total, Hentschel had 19 disposals with an average of just over six for the season, kicking just two points. In 2004, Hentschel started well playing his first 14 games. He kicked a four goal haul over at Subiaco Oval against West Coast, and consistently was able to pick up more than ten disposals a match. He then had a few small injuries, that kept him out for four matches. He averaged 11 disposals for the season, and kicked 16 goals.
Hentschel started to stand up and become a strong marking forward for Adelaide in 2005. He had a slow start to the year, kicking three goals against Collingwood before missing five games. He finished the year strongly though, playing in all three of Adelaide's finals. He played 21 matches in the year, averaging 12 disposals and five marks while kicking 26 goals. The 2006 season was arguably Hentschel's best in the AFL, kicking a career high 42 goals for the year, including an eight goal match against Essendon. However, during the third quarter of the Showdown against Port Adelaide, Hentschel's ACL was torn and his kneecap was dislocated and pushed inwards when Matt Thomas fell on it. Hentschel was then taken off the ground on a stretcher. The injury was compared with one suffered in a motor vehicle accident, as well as to that suffered by NBA player, Shaun Livingston.
2007-2009: Recovery
Surgery to repair Hentschel's damaged knee was carried out in February 2007 after the knee had healed sufficiently to undergo a reconstruction of the ACL. After a year of rehabilitation involving bike riding, swimming and gym work, Trent was up and about later in 2007. 2008 was the return season for Hentschel, but numerous niggling injuries throughout the year kept him out for the season. Hentschel had finally recovered from all injuries by 2009 and had a successful return in the pre-season competition before making his official comeback in round 1 of the 2009 AFL season against Collingwood. However, the stress of playing and training fully competitively again caused his knee to swell up, requiring further surgery. He returned successfully in round 20, scoring four goals against Hawthorn. Hentschel played out the rest of the season without any injuries, including in the Crows' two finals. He kicked a total of six goals in four games. The following year he returned to the line-up for the start of the season and went goal-less until round 3, when swelling in his knee once again forced him out of the match. Hentschel was unable to return to football due to his knee injury, and retired towards the end of 2010.
