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This put a huge smile on my face & gave me chills! So pumped to see him play. Go dees!!

HE'S BACK!!!! (Source: MFC website) http://m.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-06-02/trengove-makes-longawaited-return

Some bastard in the office is chopping onions again.

Dees Tragic living in the UK, happen to be in Melbourne for this weekend, so stoked!

Swung by for a little bit around 11am. No Lumumba, Viney, Brayshaw, Mitch King, Salem. Lots of small group drills working on different craft things - goal kicking, snaps, marks, picking the ball up etc. Garland was running laps and working with one of the fitness staff obviously in non contact work. Wagner was doing laps and then some run throughs. They moved in to a full ground drill with the blue training jumper team v the green vests, with presumably the starting players in the blue than the green. From memory the blues were: Backs: Frost, O Mc, T Mc, Hunt, Jetta Mids: Gawn, Vince, Jones, Trengove, Tyson, Stretch, Bugg Fwds: Dawes, Watts, Harmes, Kent, Oliver, Petracca, Garlett Hogan sat that drill out and did some kick and mark stuff with Crossy. After that they announced Trengove was back in to a big cheer. Then it was out in to more small drills. Clarry and Vince got in a heated push and shove, with Matt Jones stepping in between them. I think it was all fun and games and all good after but Clarry was angry about something. He was training with heavily padded compression shorts on. Hogan's set shot routine is a lot straighter, but it still looks very forced and he slows down dramatically after his sideways steps. I actually think he had a better routine last year where he got the stutters out early then finished with some good momentum in to the ball. A work in progress. I really think the fitness staff (or a privately hired coach) need to sort out his running bio-mechanics as soon as possible as well. So Trenners is in. Dawes seems likely to be in - he did some ruck practise with the rucks as well. Frost could replace Garland. The boys were in good spirits throughout, lots of laughing and joking especially when a lot of them lined up to take hangers on the bag.

I think the Oscar bashing here is appalling. The guy has played 5 GAMES. 5 GAMES people. He's a kid in a grown up game. I heard Jade Rawlings speak about him the other night, and he asked supporters to focus on what Oscar does well, not just what he isn't doing. I for one am pleased that instead of a bloke like Garland or Dunn who have no more upside, we are blooding a guy the coaching team sees something in. Either way, the focus on a bloke that has played 5 games is absurd. Let him learn the game.

That's more of an outright brag, than anything to do with Jack Trengove.

You've really got to hand it to our coaching staff for coming up with such new, bold and inventive strategies.

How about we not try to manufacture scenarios and just play the bloke if he's ready and makes us better ?

Kent is very lucky to be in the side IMO

I truly dont give a shite how he plays this week. The moment he runs out will mean he has already won. So happy for him. I reckon I'll tear up ??

I would prefer half a Dunn to a full Oscar Mc Donald!! Anyone else agree??

This story has journey has pretty much made Trenners the number 1 favourite in every red and blue heart. Regardless of the outcome of the game or how he plays, he's an absolute champion.

The Collingwood version: My partner de facto is having her 40th parole hearing on Saturday, we've hired a villa lawyer in Tuscany a back alley, and have friends flying cahns from everywhere for a James Bond fancy dress party pissup after. I think James Bond our lawyer is going to have a demons scarf punch on. P.S. Congrats Trenners. (That's from me, not the Collingwood supporter)

TBH I would have kept ANB over Harmes or Kent, give the kid a chance.

Thread title updated.

That photo of Trac hugging Trengove got me... There's also a bit of poetry in him returning against Hawthorn, the team he debuted against Round one 2010.

Tweeted by sister Jess. She makes the excellent point about the support team who have been behind Trenners every step of the way. Well done MFC Jessica Trengove ✔ ‎@JessTrengove So happy for you Jack! A huge credit to you & the support team for your hard work over the last few years. Go Dees https://twitter.com/melbournefc/status/738175538129313793 …

What a story... Absolute guts & sheer determination has got him back to this day, would have been easy to say it's all to hard and thrown in the towel. What an inspirational story, the boys would want to be up & about for this!

The annual Devil's Advocates Dinner took place last night hosted by Dr Turf and with headline guest speakers Rod Grinter (fresh from appearing the night before on Open Mike) and Jade Rawlings followed by an entertaining auction conducted by Phil Kingston of Gary Peer Estate. The Doc was in fine form and good humour and both guest speakers were entertaining in the question and answer format. Balls was far more open among friends and the legal fraternity (especially since the statute of limitations rules out any possible repercussions from the events he discussed) than he was with Mike Sheahan and the Foxtel viewing audience and threw an informative light on some of the happenings during his illustrious career of 134 games including the time when Terry Wallace embedded some of his teeth which infected his forearm and put him in hospital (Wallace played the next week but his voice is now at a higher pitch) during the time he somehow found himself out suspended for 6 weeks over the incident, the 1987 Preliminary Final (which we shoulda won), a pre season trip that landed him in hot water and the coaches who he played under including RDB, John Northey and Neil Balme. He spoke of his great friendships with teammates of the era including Garry Lyon, Jimmy Stynes, Brett Lovett during a period in which the club was relatively successful without pulling off a premiership flag. Rod is the President of the MFC Past Players and officials and he spoke of the initiatives this group has undertaken such as the Ron Barassi Club (which recently honoured the great RDB on his 80th birthday and is setting up a fund to look after former players who might be in need). In the near future the club will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the 1956 premiership - details available on this site. (I hope to be able to put together and post a tribute to 1956 before the event). Jade Rawlings had a superb career at Hawthorn before being hawked around to the Bulldogs and finally spent his last playing season with his brother Brady at North Melbourne. He has had a brief stint as a stand in coach at Richmond after his friend Terry Wallace was boned (it was really Wallace's night after the Grinter interview but readers here should know that Plough was once a Demon fan). In fact, Jade has worked with a number of sacked coaches at various clubs including Melbourne where he worked with Mark Neeld who he said was afflicted by a number of unfortunate setbacks during his brief time at the club. Rawlings is very positive about the club now under Paul Roos and soon to come under the coaching mantle of Simon Goodwin and strongly defended the club's defensive set up and personnel - they all have a purpose and we will be a strong club in the end as a result of what is being done with our inexperienced team of today. He went through most of the players in the team and their futures at the club and ended on a note that we can expect Chris Dawes, Jack Grimes and Jack Trengove at least in the 25 named (including emergencies) for Saturday's game. My only disappointment was that Max Gawn's name wasn't mentioned in discussion which I suppose reflects the fact that we've already become accustomed to the fact that he's one of the dominant ruckmen in the game today. Phil Kingston was in great form and raised a good few grand auctioning off some club goodies. He was so good in his role that he proved that even members of the legal fraternity can be dummies. Kudos to family lawyer Ralph Glezer who organised the night.

This is absolutely brilliant! Just look at the spontaneity! Telling Jack on the track

Keep in mind, this isn't just jack returning from 2 years out. It's jack returning from the initial stress fracture that he played through season 2013 with, when being burdened with the captaincy. Even though he played 22 games that year, he was never close to 100% yet played through to help his team. All the best jack, I won't be at the game as I'm still in Asia, but I'll be keeping an eye on it and wishing you all the best.

Just saw the Media Conference and the "Announcement". The way the players showed their appreciation of Jack's return showed the respect he has earned. Would really love Jack Grimes to be with him, but that is the next step. His media conference showed the quality of the person and well done to Melbourne for the way he has been managed . Even if he does not get a kick or whatever ( although I doubt that) this has got to rank with as good a sporting story for yonks !!! (Apologies to Daniel Menzel, but we are biased here. ) I know we often harp back to the "Dark Ages" but the quality of Jack Grimes and Jack Trengrove as young people are a credit to their resilience and upbringing ( and a credit in the way they have managed themselves for the positions they were in). They are both showing the quality of the people they are. If all Melbourne players were of these blokes standards, then the Club is in great hands. Go Jack !!! ( and hopefully other jack joins him soon )

No matter what happens on the weekend, this is truly awesome stuff.

Thanks for that - sitting in a car, waiting to pick my daughter up, blubbering like a fool. I love this clip, not only because Jack is back, but because of the mood amongst this band of brothers. After all he's been through After all they've been through After all we've been through

I am so excited about his return. Even more excited than seeing Petraaca and Oliver debut. Just because of what Trenners has been through. Just reading through his presser and it was great that both Roosy and Jones told him he was going to play he said It's been 797 days since he last played. Wouldn't it be great to see him kick a goal and see all the boys get around him. Look I dont think we will win but nothing would surprise me if we did but Im just rapt to see Jack out there. Just hope he gets through the game and has fun. Nice photo to.

Mods, please edit thread title. "The Jack Trengove RETURNS thread." Thanks.

I can remember the Northey days very well. One of the joys was that supporters were welcomed into the rooms before and after a match. Just ordinary supporters mind. No need to be a member of a special coterie or the like. You could hear the fire in Northey's voice as he encouraged the players. After more than 20 years of mediocrity it was a special time.

Hi all, I've updated some software this morning in the back of the server. There shouldn't be anything noticeably different, but please post in this thread if you do come across any new issues (yes - I broke the site for about 1/2 hour while doing it).

VDB - baffling inclusion Kennedy - baffling omission Grimes, Pedersen and Dunn - baffling non-recalls Oscar McDonald and Kent - baffling that they've stayed in Again, I'm scratching my head. Why are we bringing in THREE underdone players against Hawthorn? Just doesn't make sense.

Im going.. because of Trenners... Ill sit on the fence, in the members near the race. And cheer like a child when they come on and off the ground, and when Trenners goes near the ball I will stand up and cheer, and when he kicks a goal I'll cry... Funny thing football, what it does to you. For years Ive hated going to Hawthorn home games. They are so SMUG... and when they win they just ... look SMUG! As if we NEVER had a chance, why did we bother... And don't mention Jeff SMUG Kennett! And don't mention 2000. Or Dermott smarty pants 5x 5x Brereton... I wont go on. So this week... Im going over the top supporter wise.... and if we win.... my bike ride home up the Johnston st. hill will be the easiest its been in yrs.. This side looks like it could win....

How is Oscar still in this team

In: Dawes, Trengove, Frost, vandenBerg, Oliver Out: Garland, Newton, Viney (inj), Kennedy, Neal-Bullen. Good changes imo.

What a special moment! And just like on the field, Watts is first in with the congratulations!

My partner is having her 40th on Saturday, we've hired a villa in Tuscany, and have friends flying from everywhere for a James Bond fancy dress party. I think James Bond is going to have a demons scarf on.

Based on what I have been told by medicos the outlook was extremely poor for his type of injury given the nature of the injury and the nature of the game. His return speaks volumes for his character and I am glad that the club has continued to support him. I am sure that Jack will be happy to take it a week at a time. Let's hope he can continue to play on a regular basis so we can see his skills and class.

Probably one of the few times the entire Demonland community would all agree. Jack's back and that's great.

Happened to stumble on the first page of this thread and saw this pic: He has come so far. Inspirational! Well done, young man. Would someone like to change the title of this thread saying Jack is back, please!

I remember the hitman article and it turned out to be Merrett. Can't remember who wrote it though. I remember the thing of beauty Grinters shirtfront on Mew was and the roar of approval from the Demon faithful. Also remember Brereton flinching when confronted by Grinter on the half back line at Waverly. Make no mistake kids. Rod Grinter was an intimidating badass ..... And we loved him for it.

I recall that was a Don Scott article and it came out he was referring to Roger Merrett.

Don't worry, if we somehow manage to roll the Hawks this week we'll be on the verge of a premiership dynasty again.

Or he could have been simply ill.......

Grinter conducted himself with great dignity during Sheehan's grilling. All Sheehan seemed to want to talk about was Grinter's misdemeanors. Mike seems to forget that those were different days, they were the days when animals like Matthews, Scott, Dipper, Brereton and Wallis were free to biff and assault and punch and elbow opponents because 'it was part of the game' and because 'what happened on the field stayed on the field'. I wonder how Sheehan would interview thugs like Matthews and Brereton, whether the bulk of the interview would have centered on their king hits, assaults and general thuggery.

Was going to skip watching or listening to this game, as I thought we were in for a hiding. Damn you Trenners, how can I ignore the game now!?

Fantastic news!! Welcome back, Jack! You've been a wonderful inspiration during your long and gruelling rehab. Now, continue the journey that was so cruelly interrupted two years ago, and become the star you always promised to be! So excited for him!

Two things. 1. Not everyone recovers from illness at the same rate. 2. Casey had a bye last week, so there were several other players that we didn't hear anything about either that weren't named in the 25 last week.

Rusty, I had to read your post three times to realise you weren't talking about soccer. When I played it was in the backline, in those days we dished it out. But I agree our backline are getting punished. I think this is the year before we start to play our best team every week, the coaches seem to be experimenting.

Despite the considerable improvement we have seen this season, the team selection in some of the games this year has been curious to say the least, and in my view it has absolutely compromised our performance in certain games (those games being against the Saints, Essendon and Port). Pedersen may have missed the Port game due to match ups, but he's not the only player I'd like to know why they've gone missing. Dunn is another experienced player who's no longer in the mix. Finally finding some depth seems to have troubled the match committee.

Diamond can't hear you right now - he got the same number of weeks which Oliver was supposed to miss through the fake injury.

Your optimism disgusts me.