Captain Trengove

[deelusions from afar 1,803]

Apologies in advance if other people think this is merely duplicating what others have said in other threads. But there have been so many duplicate negative threads recently (with just cause) that I thought this warranted its own.

It's our darkest days at the moment. I know we've been promised that the light at the end of the tunnel is near & are sick of the spin going into every new season... but this guy is a light in a virtually starless sky.

When he was chosen as co-captain, I thought it was because Grimes had not been able to string a full season together (prior to last year) and they did not want to be playing without a captain most weeks. Trengove had obvious leadership qualities but was very young as we all know. In hindsight and from afar, it looks as though Jones and Clark would have made good (perhaps better?) captains. However we don't see the day to day workings at the club and so watching this interview, I got a glimpse as to why he is one of our captains.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2013-04-17/recovery-claims-untrue-trengove

He's what 21? Considering the media pack that is swarming around us at the moment, the composure he shows in that interview gives me confidence. He's on message and his determination and steely resolve in the direction we are going shines through. He's missed the pre-season and has been slammed from pillar to post for being too young to lead by people that couldn't actually have any real idea. His form and speed were disappointing last year (maybe due to injury) and the start of the season has been tumultuous for the club - but he stood there, answered all the questions without giving them the "quote" for another negative article. I used to cringe when hearing previous captains such as Green or Neitz spoke to the media. I don't with Trengove and have equal faith in Grimes.

Now of course the obvious response is that this counts for zip if he/they can't lead on the field. But they can.

With no pre-season, he's got better with each game. He was down last year but (as all the coaches said so many times last year) he lead the team in nearly all the defensive indicators and his work rate was good despite getting less of the ball.

People forget that many teams had him as the #1 pick in 2009 for being able to do it all and despite what you think of our ability to develop young players, in Trengove I see the same focus and desire to be the best he can be that Nathan Jones had when he started. We all know how much Jones has improved and I think Trengove has more raw talent / potential than Jones did. Similarly Grimes captained a team that had Kruezer and Cotchin in it - he can play! We've been getting killed in the midfield - can't be an easy place to be playing for a young footballer - but with Gawn knocking on the door, Trengove and Blease getting fitness back, Sylvia finding form (can he do it every week?), return of McKenzie and the injection of M Jones, Terlich, Kent, Evans, Viney & Toumpas we might not be as far away as some think. It's amazing how much better your attack and defence look when your midfield improves.

I still think Trengove was unfairly thrown to the wolves in being made captain so early in his career, but with all he's been through outwardly he shows no signs of it affecting him. Perhaps it has made him stronger - made him grow up much faster than what would normally be expected of a young AFL player.

With Grimes, Jones, Clark and Viney around him we have a good young leadership group who are selfless, tough and uncompromising - these guys can and will change the culture of the club.

Edited April 18, 2013 by deelusions from afar

[deelusions from afar 1,803]

And was surprised hearing his response re Dermie's comments. He obviously had not heard about it. I'm sure someone at the club would be aware but at the very least he will probably bring it to the leadership group. If there is anyone that hasn't been taking their recovery session seriously - they will be from now on.

[DeeSpencer 25,509]

He had a really good first half on the weekend. Kicked 2 clutch goals, but then went missing. Obviously his fitness and match fitness is still coming back but I really hope he can have a better year than last year. He's got a lot of pressure and I don't expect him to dominate or play to Jones' level but just if he can find the footy more and get back to his reliable disposal that went missing last year then it will be great.

Grimes looked very good off half back last week even if he did make a few errors. Just having him back there I feel helps the players around him because you know he's always coming over to help and isn't afraid to go back and put his body on the line.

Clark is trying as hard as he is up forward and if Sylvia can work as hard as he did on the weekend up forward as well then we've at least got some guys giving it a go there.

The midfield is the big one and its where we need McKenzie and Trengove back at their best to go with the two Jones' and Viney and at least we will have guys who have a dip each week and aren't afraid to win the ball.

Edited April 18, 2013 by the master

[Wormburner 674]

I agree with your comments deelusions re Trengrove's press conference, he handled himself very well.

I don't know whether it is just me picking it up, but our team is now deservably showing contempt for the media scum....keep giving it to those media sewer rats fellas!!

[Ted Lasso 19,354]

It would have been amusing to see the faces of some of the interviewers after his responses, just shut them down

[Satyriconhome 10,736]

The interview was the vindication as to why he was made a co captain

[Maldonboy38 6,390]

He was really impressive in that interview, and he held his nerve for almost 10 minutes. Every time he was led to some negative point by another journo-[censored] he returned to talking about the first half. This bloke is a born leader and I can't wait to see his leadership attributes fully emerge. I also agree with point made about Neitz and Green - two players I loved. They were cringe-worthy in front of a camera.

As for his form after half time, I had my eye on him a fair bit and his gut running, and defensive positioning was actually really good. On many occasions he had to leave his position to fill a hole left by another team mate who hadn't got into position early enough, or hadn't run at all. On 2 occasion N Jones was the culprit (probably due to a huge 2nd half tag). Watch this space: a great year from Trenners in 2013 coming up.

[Pennant St Dee 13,118]

Trenners has all the qualities of a good leader, I am a big fan of his, he is a very good footballer with great discipline. In my mind will be a gun midfielder in a couple of years, but having said all that I am also of the opinion that him being given the captaincy at such an early stage may have been premature.

Despite the many knockers on this site Trenners is the least of the clubs worries

[MH. 88]

He had a really good first half on the weekend. Kicked 2 clutch goals, but then went missing.

But then went tagging.

I want him to be left to play with the shackles off. All players must play with defence in mind, but he'll be better without a specific role.

Edited April 18, 2013 by MH.

[McQueen 17,864]

It would have been amusing to see the faces of some of the interviewers after his responses, just shut them down

It was great to see it thrown back at them when he asked for clarity to the questions. I reckon one of the reporters voice actually started to quiver at on stage.

Great to see him so comfortable in these interviews. Now it's time to take that confidence on to the field.

[DeeSpencer 25,509]

Probably should've had a shave! Or keep working on that beard and provide solidarity for Frawley, Watts, Gillies and co!

[leucopogon 1,519]

Saw nothing in that interview to inspire much confidence. Just the usual cliches and platitudes.

Comments that concerned me about the coaching of the club:

"Whatever team we're put up against we're gonna attack them the same way"

Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but I'd be concerned if they aren't being coached to approach each opponent slightly differently, depending on their relative strengths and weaknesses and gameplan tendencies. Not sure what to make of this comment but doesn't inspire much confidence in me about our match-day preparation considering how bad we've been so far this season.

Anyway, I still think it was a bad decision making the young bloke co-skipper, he doesn't come across as a leader of men, more like a school prefect. He's too bloody young.

Edited April 18, 2013 by leucopogon

[Bluey's Dad 3,419]

Saw nothing in that interview to inspire much confidence. Just the usual cliches and platitudes.

Comments that concerned me about the coaching of the club:

"Whatever team we're put up against we're gonna attack them the same way"

Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but I'd be concerned if they aren't being coached to approach each opponent slightly differently, depending on their relative strengths and weaknesses and gameplan tendencies. Not sure what to make of this comment but doesn't inspire much confidence in me about our match-day preparation considering how bad we've been so far this season.

Anyway, I still think it was a bad decision making the young bloke co-skipper, he doesn't come across as a leader of men, more like a school prefect. He's too bloody young.

I think it would be referring to attitude and mindset rather than strategy and tactics.

Going in with a real belief that the game is winnable IS something you want every time.

[P-man 13,366]

Saw nothing in that interview to inspire much confidence. Just the usual cliches and platitudes.

Comments that concerned me about the coaching of the club:

"Whatever team we're put up against we're gonna attack them the same way"

Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but I'd be concerned if they aren't being coached to approach each opponent slightly differently, depending on their relative strengths and weaknesses and gameplan tendencies. Not sure what to make of this comment but doesn't inspire much confidence in me about our match-day preparation considering how bad we've been so far this season.

Anyway, I still think it was a bad decision making the young bloke co-skipper, he doesn't come across as a leader of men, more like a school prefect. He's too bloody young.

You're definitely reading too much into it. Of course they assess the team they're up against, that goes without saying.

I have to disagree on your overall impression of him from that presser. if anything, it was the first time I saw a genuine leader in him. I do however still think he was given the duties too soon in his career.

[DemonWA 3,932]

I believe signing Trengove and Grimes as co captains was for a number of reasons;

1. Both were seen as critical players to keep at the club long term - The captaincy is an additional emotional tie to 'lock them in' for the long term

2. Neither of them had played enough games to warrent giving the captaincy to just one of them, thus the co-captain route

3. There was seen to be no real leaders from the old guys who could provide the whole onfield and off field package (eg. Beamer probably ticked the onfield box only....)

If Grimes and Trengove finish their careers as greats of the MFC it will have been a good move, but latley i wonder whether giving the captaincy to Brent Moloney would have been the best thing for the club in the short to medium term?

PS. I still believe Trengove can become our Jimmy Bartel style player