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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

Siren and the Casey Scorpions have secured their place in the finals. Peter Jackson VFL Casey Scorpions 6.1.37 6.3.39 12.6.78 17.9.111 Coburg Lions 3.0.18 9.6.60 11.8.74 14.10.94 Goals Casey Scorpions Smith Spencer 4 Jamar 3 Jones McKenzie Papley Rennie Riley Terlich Coburg Lions Johns 3 Hill MacDonald Younan 2 Carnell Cauchi Clifton Thomas Venditti Best Casey Scorpions Smith McKenzie Spencer Riley Jones Jamar Coburg Lions Johns Thomas Clifton Carnell Venditti Christensen Disposals Jones 26, Terlich 26, Riley 22, Spencer 19

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.

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

I mentioned this a month ago but worth repeating. I attended a function prior to the Saints game where Josh Mahoney got up and spoke about a few players. It was Michies first game back for months from memory. Mahoney said he had been a class above at VFL level for 4 or 5 weeks and we now need to give him a chance to see what he can do in the seniors for a few weeks. I got the feeling from that discussion that he was told unless he shows something that his career could be shot. 5 weeks later he is still in the 22 and last week was possibly his best game at the club. He is worth perservering with for at least another year i would have thought.

The day this bloke runs out for the Mighty Dees again will be a very emotional return....I really hope it happens. Interesting he is using Gawnys two years out with injury as motivation ,look at big Treebeard now. We all know how Trenners looked slow in his last couple of years, and he was a gun junior, so fingers crossed he can get back to somewhere near his best.

Will bet every dollar Brayshaw Viney Tyson Petracca Salem will be qaulity midfielders in 3 to 5 years time.

One thing i notice significantly was at times he showed real break away pace. Something i haven't seen from him before. I think he will play the rest of the year out and kept on for next year. Personally i think he has been unfairly treated this year compared to others. Always been a fan of Viv.

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!

This again demonstrates why outcome should have no bearing with MRP decisions. Wingard could easily be in a wheelchair right now, extremely lucky to escape without injury.

Who's at full back for Coburg? Cale Morton? Glad to see my spray of Casey has lifted them

I can only assume it annoys you because of an emotional bias. Considering at no point do you ever elaborate on your one word statements on the subject, I genuinely wonder whether you have a clue what you're talking about? At no point did I say he is 'THE' problem. I said that he along with that group of players that I mentioned are and have been problematic. Garland happens to be coming out of contract which is why I'm speaking about him. Your other option is to not even open the thread. But you took the time to read it and respond only in expressing your annoyance about me. It all says much more about you, than me...

Expected a little bit more from Viv but I think the coaches have been a little unfair on him. I'm glad he's finally being given a consistent run at it.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-08-21/five-talking-points-hawthorn-v-port-adelaide "As Wingard was chasing down a ball deep in the Power's forward line, Hodge appeared to catch the Power star high. And to add a wrinkle of complexity to the MRP's job, at the moment of impact Wingard was up against the behind post, with the force of Hodge's bump appearing to knock his head into the post." Remember, that is - "appeared to"... "catch" ... him "high". That's what we're calling a deliberate hip-slam to the back of the head made to an off-balance bent over player while not competing for the ball and requiring a change of momentum to make contact. One of the things most obvious in that gif is the way Hodge clearly set himself to the angle then pushed off from his left foot. In fact, watching the feet, you can see that he jumped into Wingard's head, rather than simply continuing to run. I would be interesting to hear someone argue that was his intended trajectory and Wingard being in the way was an accident, because if Wingard wasn't there, Hodge has just spontaneously changed direction in order to jump into the behind post. Maybe the Hawks are back to their [redacted] habits of old?

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

The red one definitely looks better than that white. Would like to see it used more.

28.5k at a Friday night game in Melbourne, Hawks have been marching towards a top 2 spot and that's the amount of their ferals that turn up? They're meant to have 73,000 members, lol please. How many of those supposed 73,000 are made up of 3-game,Tasmanian and pet memberships? I'm guessing at least a 1/3 and i'm being generous.

So happy to see Viv Michie on the starting field at HF! What does everyone think about Viv staying on in 2016? Can't wait to see him play tomorrow! Go Dees!!

I love it when the Scott wankers blow a fuse. Makes me happy.

Saints were robbed at the end. A blatant 50 metre penalty not paid despite a Geelong player running over the mark by a clear 5m, then Bartel running over the line after Savage's behind. You'd be filthy if you were a Sainter.

Lions percentage copping a hammering. Blues will be nervous. We are certainties tomorrow!

Apt choice of user name.

Because practicality as i post the scores i get off twitter his pops up straight after mine goes through.Just trying to help KC out don't see how its a big issue?

Really liked his game last week. If he can keep that up he is a definite to stay. I'm not sure the coaches are being unfair but have seen development issues that need addressing before he comes a regular. Wouldn't write him off by any means.

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.

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.

Hopefully we can learn something from Port's performance. They can, technically, still make the finals though - maybe that 0.001% chance has kept them going. Hardly matters really. Hawthorn's members are largely fake. They've signed up on the back of the club winning flag after flag. They're not real supporters though. We get made fun of for our supporters not knowing who the players are or going to the snow or not really caring, but IMO Hawthorn's supporters are much worse with that. It may be years and years away, but I long for the time when they fall apart.

The guy played 150 games for the Dees, often in times of unprecedented turmoil, so I'll give him the respect he deserves.

I've been looking at Hogan's stats (among others) and decided I'll try to keep my interest up during dead rubber season by cheering on a couple of personal achievement the monster can aim for. First up, he's chasing Tom Hawkins for most contested marks in a season. Currently just 3 behind - 42 to 45. He also needs to pick up five or six goals on a few players in a cluster at 44/45 goals, in order to finish the season in the top 10 goalkickers. Taking the Tom Hawkins comparison and running with it - they are serious hard to split. Some numbers in favour of Hogan, others favouring Hawkins. Main difference is that Hogan seems to spend more time away from goal up the ground. More inside 50s, fewer marks inside 50, that sort of thing. Anyway, I'll be keeping an eye on Hawkins and a half-eye on the cluster of other forwards around that top-10 goals mark. Just to observe a little milestone in a big career. Add to all that - Hogan and Cripps are the clear outstanding pair in the running for the Rising Star award. Their comparative games on sunday might be the clincher! Obviously all the decision-makers eyes will be on that game.

Definitely not far off the mark. The thing that constantly surprises me is how many Dees stickers I see on the back of car windows and number plates on a simple drive to work every day (and no small drive either, we're talking all the way up the Monash for half an hour and through Toorak/South Yarra). I couldn't tell you the last time I saw another car brandishing a sticker for another club other than Collingwood.

If people had said after two years of Roos tenure we'd have knocked off Collingwood and Geelong in the season and moved ahead of Carlton and the Dons in terms of premiership windows doubled our wins (almost every year) stabalised the clubs losses and introduced and properly developed genuine new talent and set up a development environment such thats it's as good as any in the AFL etc... then they'd have been right about what he's done. I think 2016 could be a "Cinderella Story" but am keeping those thoughts on the down low...

Every year we sign too many list clogging spuds who all end up slowly playing out their careers at Casey and it must be such a downer for all the Casey players and the young Demons out there. We need talented young players with freedom to go play VFL and use their skills. Injuries take their toll, the pressure steps up and Casey crumble. Nice of them to do it in the 2nd quarter this week instead of either the first or dragging it out until late in the game.

The fact he is getting a run ahead of others shows that Roos hasn't made his mind up on him yet. If he is still being given a run in the side when he has largely disappointed over the last month suggests that he may yet get another contract at year's end.

I know Danger was 10. I should have said 10 +. Forgive the Heppell one, forgot about that. My point is that we really don't know. Twomey included. It doesn't matter if he's played midfield or not, if he can win his own ball and has the right attributes he can be moved there like we've seen with many players. Who would have thought Bernie Vince would be a starting four midfielder with a hard contested edge to his game when he was first drafted? I'm assuming this is Machsy? Sudden disappearance and then a Mach5 pops up and writes in such a similar manner.

Meh....

Just normal Hawthorn stuff. ( part of the early training I suspect is the kneedrop, coathanger, professional corkee and elbow slam.)

Well done MFC for giving Hawthorn a Trojan Horse(James Frawley).

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.

hook............line.............

Thompson left because Daniher wouldn't play him, pure and simple. I remember discussing with friends the year before he left, saying he would go because of the Coach. I believe that is exactly what happened. Scott played 39 games in 4 years with us and then nearly every game with the Crows since.

At least wearing the Red jumper,which i don't mind at all, should put to rest this silly idea about needing to be white. Then we can wear either our real jumper or the red one (only)next season. We are after all the red and the blue. Lets just keep it that way.

I hope for your sake you aren't addicted to anything other than Demonland, h_h.

A month or so ago when the MFC injury list was dwindling and Casey was playing up to 15-16 Demons in their side, they were winning games. It's quite likely that today they will be down to 9 or 10 and, if he plays, I don't see Dean Kent having a big role in the outcome because of his lack of match fitness. That doesn't augur well for Casey's finals prospects because next week they take on top four team Sandringham at the Beach Oval. And for those who will miss big Jack ~

If the AFL are serious Hodge should get plenty. As dangerous a move as I've seen for some time. Following up from his elbow to the face of Swallow earlier on in the year. http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/video-luke-hodge-bumps-chad-wingards-head-into-point-post-may-see-match-review-panel-penalty/story-fnelctok-1227493842676

I prefer the thicker MFC monogram used on our training jumpers in the mid-1990's than the thin-letter version of today. This is what the reserves players used to wear; the seniors wore navy with red MFC.

players or jumpers?

Jesus wept. He's in the side. He knows he's in the side. We all know he's in the side. He'll play the game, in the seniors. There is no other message being sent. From reading the Plapp articles, the message he's getting is an encouraging one. Stop looking for gremlins that aren't there.

Then what you heard isn't correct. Nor, in all likelihood, did you actually hear it.,

Adams, DeGoey, Broomhead, Crisp, Elliott, Freeman, Grundy, Kennedy, Langdon, Marsh, Maynard, Moore, Scharenberg, Willams. I reckon they have a lot to work with. Each to their own. And that doesn't address the 9 years of "rebuilds" we've had and Treloar would have every right to doubt this one. Plus Collingwood is a much better brand than MFC and playing in front of 60,000+ at the G most weeks would have it's attractions. I know if it was my son who'd I'd suggest if I was impartial.