Trengove: "I will get back"

[stuie 7,374]

Some of our best clubmen are some of the blokes who have copped it it the most over the years.

This one's especially for the doubters, and for those who immediately starting bagging him without realizing there must have been something wrong for someone with such great character to not be operating as well as they could.

I will get back: Trengove

[McQueen 17,867]

I'd love to read it but don't have a subscription to these papers.

[stuie 7,374]

I'd love to read it but don't have a subscription to these papers.

Ahhh I thought this link would work (I don't have a subscription either)

Here's what you do: copy that link, paste it into google, there you go....

[What 18,810]

I love Trenners. I love Grimesy too

Ridiculous that either bloke cops criticism with the garbage they were put through in the Neeld era... both thrust into the captaincy at a very young age when neither was ready or worthy. Its wonder either of them still enjoy their footy, andI hope they do.

[What 18,810]

I'd love to read it but don't have a subscription to these papers.

I will get back: Trengove

[Moonshadow 17,677]

Every link on Google seems to need a subscription. Can one of you pls quote a little of the best bits? Ta

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

The fact that we could have two #2 Draft Pick Midfielders (Trenners and Petracca) firing next year, plus whoever we get this trade period (fingers crossed), including the return of Frost, Kent, and Salem [censored] excites me.

Edited August 22, 2015 by The Song Formerly Known As

[beelzebub 23,383]

Copy link to memo/notepad

Delete dailytelegrah..insert news

Recopy to your web app

Looks like

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/drafted-at-18-and-captain-by-20-jack-trengove-opens-up-on-the-fight-to-save-his-career-at-just-23/story-fni5f91b-1227493079123?sv=c1bbc88647269a7ba6c2b8ea34cdbebc

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

JACK Trengove loves and hates game day.

He still gets goosebumps walking to the ground and the shiver down the spine when his teammates run through the banner.

That’s what keeps him going.

It’s what gets him through the 460-odd days since he last trained with his teammates.

The 22 weeks he’s spent in a moon boot with his left leg sweating just sitting on the couch.

And the two operations to insert a screw in his foot then replace it with bone marrow from his hip when the screw cracked.

It will all be worth it in the end, he keeps telling himself.

But at the same time Trengove hates game day because it reminds him where he should be.

On the morning of Sunday, August 9, he was sitting in a cafe in Richmond drinking green tea while a few streets over his Melbourne teammates were arriving at the MCG to play the Kangaroos.

Trengove should be one of them but by the time he returns to the field in 2016 it will have been two years since he last played a game.

The No. 2 draft pick at 18 and youngest club captain in VFL/AFL history at 20 is now fighting for his career at 23 thanks to the dreaded navicular bone in his left foot.

Jack Trengove in action for the Dees in 2013.

And apart from feeling helpless watching from the stands on game day, he also has to bite his tongue.

“I battle sitting in the crowd and watching because you hear people slagging off your teammates which I really struggle with,” Trengove said.

“One thing I’ve realised more than ever in the last two years is how easy it is to criticise from the sidelines ... you don’t understand what it’s like to be out there in that situation.”

That’s why as much as Trengove wants to get back to AFL footy to prove to himself that’s where he belongs, he wants to show a few others as well.

“The main factor is to prove to myself that I can do it, I’ve grown up always loving footy and to have it taken away from you just bloody hurts,” he said.

“But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to prove some people wrong. There are a hell of a lot of doubters out there and I tend to turn a blind eye towards that ... but you do want to prove a point.”

Trengove didn’t have to sit in the stands to hear the knocks on him.

To the observer at times in 2013 and for the first two weeks of 2014, he’d suddenly and unexplainedly lost his pace as if the game had passed him by.

What the observer didn’t know however was a throbbing pain in Trengove’s foot made it almost impossible to run.

“It’s a dull pain, you go to take off and jump but you don’t have anything,” he said.

“It got progressively worse and to a point where I’d come out after half time and go to run and it was just aching every step and that was when I said ‘all right, I have to do something about it’.

“It’s frustrating because you know you’re capable of doing more but your body is not letting you get there and upstairs you’re thinking ‘why isn’t this happening?’”

IT ALL started so promisingly for Trengove who became a top-two draft lock when he dominated an SANFL preliminary final for Sturt as a 17-year-old in 2009.

He played 37 games in his first two seasons at Melbourne and when Mark Neeld arrived as coach in 2012 he became the game’s youngest ever skipper as co-captain with Jack Grimes.

The first sign of a foot fracture appeared in 2012 but Trengove was able to play out the season and rest it.

He also got through the 2013 season but with Neeld’s sacking and him and the team struggling, he stepped down as captain to focus on his own game.

“It was an absolute honour to captain the club but when Roosy (Paul Roos) came on board we had a chat about things and trying to figure out what’s best for my footy,” Trengove said.

“A lot of the whack on me in the years I was captain was that I focused too much on it ... I had to sit back and think what’s best for the team was getting me performing at my best.

“That was a lot of the reason for stepping away from it (captaincy) and I thought I had a new lease on life then I came down with the foot stuff.”

Refreshed and re-motivated, Trengove got through the whole pre-season under Roos but 2014 lasted just two games when it was revealed he’d fractured his navicular bone.

He had surgery in April, 2014, and did six months of recovery on crutches, in a moon boot and riding around the oval on a scooter.

But when he tried running in September something didn’t feel right and scans showed cracks in the screws in his foot — requiring more surgery and meaning he had to start again.

That period, Trengove says, was the toughest and when the 2015 season became a write-off he vented most of his frustration to his family but likes to think on the whole he has remained positive.

To keep him busy he increased his study load in business at university and has been working one day a week with a financial planning firm.

“It was hot weather, I was getting around on crutches or in a moon boot and thinking ‘what am I doing? Is it all going to be worth it?’ But you’ve got to stay positive,” he said.

“Before all this started I’d hardly missed a game of footy in my life, I didn’t even know what injury meant, so the hardest bit was to get over the mental barriers of not being able to run out and play.

“It’s (being positive) the only way to attack it because as soon as you get negative thoughts in your head that’s where it can go downhill.

“And no doubt when I do get back from this one I’ll appreciate it a hell of a lot more because I’ve been out of the game a couple of years and realised how great it is to be in it.”

Trengove is one of 16 top-20 draft picks Melbourne has had in the past nine years, yet only eight of those are still at the club.

Despite that damning statistic, his own battle with injury and No. 1 pick Jack Watts having to deal with vocal critics his whole career, Trengove doesn’t buy into the supposed ‘curse’ of being drafted to the Dees.

“It’s easy to sit back and predict what could have been if you went to another club but I don’t see the value in doing that,” he said.

“No doubt we haven’t had much success but in saying that, you learn different things like facing a bit of adversity and I think it will make me a better player, it’s just a matter of getting through it all and I wouldn’t change it for a thing.”

Trengove wouldn’t change a thing but things nearly changed for him last year when Richmond and Melbourne discussed a trade which would have sent him to Tigerland.

“It was a unique and weird experience to go through,” he said.

“I was literally sitting on the couch just trying to get my foot right and get back to running and that all came up.

“Obviously it didn’t eventuate to anything because my foot didn’t hold up and I couldn’t be happier staying at Melbourne, they’ve supported me through the whole thing and I really want to repay the favour.

“I’ve made a lot of friends within the club and with supporters and I don’t want to let them down.”

AUGUST 7 was a momentous occasion for Trengove — so much so that his teammates made him run through a banner at training.

The fact that he could run at all was the cause for celebration but Trengove planned his first jog since October to be a low-key lap of Gosch’s Paddock.

Finally after 18 months of boxing, cycling, squats, dead lifts, calf raises and swimming Trengove was allowed to run.

He knew something was up when he got to training and the club physio and teammates Max Gawn and Watts summoned him to the front of the group.

“I thought I’d sneak out there and do my little insignificant two laps of walk, jog and be done,” Trengove said.

“But they brought me in and Sammy the physio did a bit of a spiel about the amount of days it’s been since I’d trained.

“Then Wattsy and Gawny stood out the front and said ‘we’ve all missed having Trenners out on the track so we thought we’d make it a monumental moment’ and they brought the banner out.

“The great thing about the whole process I’ve been through is my teammates have always been there to ask how I’m going and it’s nice to have their support and them caring for me.”

It was fitting that Gawn was behind the banner idea.

He and Trengove were drafted together in 2009 and remain close mates, but as Trengove’s career took off Gawn’s stalled with two knee reconstructions and he didn’t debut until 2011. Now Gawn is flying as the club’s No. 1 ruckman and has just re-signed for three years.

“Early days he was going from knee injury to knee injury and I always felt for him but didn’t realise what he was going through,” Trengove said.

“Now I guess I’ve got a bit of a comparison and that’s a factor why he’s going so well now.

“He’s done the hard yards and is now making the most of being out there and relishing it.”

Like Gawn who some might have written off before his career even began, Trengove is hoping with hard yards and a bit of luck then his best might still be to come too.

[rjay 25,091]

Great article. If he can get back on the ground we then have a real bonus player.

The doubters forget how good he was.

[Moonshadow 17,677]

2016 needs to be the 'good' year for injuries.

Trengove, Petracca, Kent, Frost, Salem for starters

[dazzledavey36 55,357]

Amazing article. If there is one bloke who deserves a bit of luck a true success its the like of Trengove Grimes Jones and Dunn.

Imagine a fully fit Trengove next year!

Btw im gonna take a massive wack at Dave Mission here. It says in the article he had a fracture in his foot in 2012 but played out the season. Why the hell did they let him play out the season!!? Its quite obvious the injury stems back to that moment when he should have been put in cotton wool and rested and recoverd instead of trying to play it out to what was a horrible season. The medical department and Mission need to take a big responsibility of this. Ever since then he has battled the injury and forced back earlier then usual.

Not good enough!

[Jaded No More 68,974]

Anyone who has been through years of rehab that amounted to nothing will understand just how hard it is.

I feel for Trenners and hope like hell he can get back out there. Not just because he was a bloody good player, but also because he deserves it!

[Wiseblood 24,637]

Amazing article. If there is one bloke who deserves a bit of luck a true success its the like of Trengove Grimes Jones and Dunn.

Imagine a fully fit Trengove next year!

Btw im gonna take a massive wack at Dave Mission here. It says in the article he had a fracture in his foot in 2012 but played out the season. Why the hell did they let him play out the season!!? Its quite obvious the injury stems back to that moment when he should have been put in cotton wool and rested and recoverd instead of trying to play it out to what was a horrible season. The medical department and Mission need to take a big responsibility of this. Ever since then he has battled the injury and forced back earlier then usual.

Not good enough!

You are twisting words here dazzle. It says 'signs' of a fracture, which is obviously different to their being a full fracture there. Clearly if there was he would've gotten surgery - I don't know of anyone who is able to play out a season with a fracture in their foot. Clearly they could see it flaring up and decided to let him rest and see how it turned out. Obviously things got worse and if they could turn back time they would... but they can't. I don't think Misson deserves a 'massive whack' for it.

Super article though. Great to see Trenners still loves the club and he could be classed as a new recruit IF he gets through pre-season. I don't expect him to regain the form he once had but he'll be a handy player to have in the side going forward.

[mo64 5,881]

Great article. If he can get back on the ground we then have a real bonus player.

The doubters forget how good he was.

In fairness, the doubters weren't informed that his foot injury was greatly impacting his performance. Everyone assumed that the weight of captaincy was the trigger of his form decline.

Seems like a high quality bloke, and would love him playing close to his best next year.

[The team we love 416]

What a courageous bloke. No wonder he lost so much pace - each step was a painful one.

I still remember him chasing down opposition players in his first year. I wouldn't have described him as being explosive but he was in the top 10 quickest players in the team. If his foot recovers, there is no reason why he can't regain his pace.

[beelzebub 23,383]

Great article. If he can get back on the ground we then have a real bonus player.

The doubters forget how good he was.

I would suggest doubting and knowing good bad or indifferent are entirely unrelated ideas.

I still harbour doubts that he'll be able to get back to his previous level but that doesnt stop me from admiring his spunk and determination, nor acknowledging he was coming into some fine form before going down.

He was a good player. Injury slowed him then nobbled him.

He is of exceptional character and I genuinely wish him well. Its my choice not to hold my breath etc.Still a lot to go ...but hes giving it a red hot go.. Good for him

[Sir Why You Little 37,130]

I just hate the way the club played hom when he was injured (seriously)

It was political. I shall always believe that

He couldn't kick he couldn't run but he was the Captain (a joke in itself)

I doubt he will play senior AFL again but i admire him for trying.

I did 12 years of Physiotherapy

[Ricky P 757]

I really feel for the bloke and hope he gets back to playing footy. He's clearly a sensational bloke and he could be a great addition next year. Given he was quite young when he stopped playing, I reckon he'll definitely be better than he was when he started out.

I also question why he played so much footy through 2012, 2013 and 2014 when he was clearly not right. Half the Melbourne support could tell he was injured. I certainly could. That said, I'm sure there's an explanation - would be interested to hear it.

[Mazer Rackham 14,971]

Good on you Trenners. Goddamn I hope you get back.

On a related note, I heard a whisper that Tyson was carrying an injury but instead of letting him get it right, the club (take your pick of which individuals) told him to harden up and play through it. Let's hope he doesn't get to play out Trenners Mk II.

[Macca 17,034]

Signs of a fracture could equal actual fracture ... foot injuries are notoriously hard to define, diagnose and cure. Ask anyone who has ever had foot problems. A lot of the advice can be conflicting even though the people giving the advice are usually very well qualified.

Given the nature of Trengove's injury, it's my bet that the pain would come and go but would have preyed on his mind - these type of injuries can and often will effect other parts of a sportspersons game - especially the ability to sprint freely. It largely explains why he lost his pace and awareness skills. The area might also have become inflamed periodically (or often)

I'm by no means blaming Misson but perhaps the right specialists should have been consulted. Trengove is also perhaps to blame for not highlighting how bad things were (if things were bad) He was made captain and may have felt obligated. Nearly all players play with "niggles" and that's how Trengove and the staff might have viewed things.

[Redleg 41,443]

Like the rest of you I hope JT comes back bigger and better and can add another 150 plus games to his career with us.

[Biffen 12,947]

2016 needs to be the 'good' year for injuries.

Trengove, Petracca, Kent, Frost, Salem for starters

If Brayshaw never misses a full year it will be a pleasant surprise.

Everyone else does.

Seems compulsory for any of our top players.

[censored] it.

[deanox 9,989]

I had stress leg fractures when i was younger and was told by medical professionals they could be managed through the rest of the season.

I'm not professional level, so I'd like to know what the usual approach is for such injuries at that level. Is a "manage the injuries until we can't" approach typical? We know it is for many other injuries when we say "he's been carrying a knee" etc. So I imagine this isn't much different.

[Tony Tea 2,809]

"JACK Trengove loves and hates game day."

There's a coincidence. I hate the phrase "game day".