Select Page

Luke Trainor (footballer, born 2006)

Luke Trainor (born 10 April 2006) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A tall intercepting defender, Trainor was drafted in the first round of the 2024 AFL draft and made his debut early in the 2025 season.

Early life and junior football

Trainor played junior representative football with the Sandringham Dragons and attended high school at Brighton Grammar School.[1] In his early years he played primarily as a forward and a midfielder, only switching to defence in 2024.[2]

In 2022, Trainor represented the Victorian Metropolitan region at the national under 16 championships, where he was named in the tournament's All-Australian Team.[3] In the summer of 2023/24, Trainor took part in the AFL Academy program, training with St Kilda over the summer and being awarded best on ground in a special exhibition match against VFL team Coburg.[4] At this time, he was considered by draft experts to be a potential top-five pick in the forthcoming 2024 AFL draft.[5]

Trainor represented Victoria Metro at the 2024 AFL Under 18 Championships, playing four matches, averaging 19.8 disposals and 5.8 marks per game and earning selection in the tournament's All-Australian team.[6] Trainor kicked the winning goal for his side after the final siren in Metro's grand final victory over Victoria Country.[7][8][9]

He also won the Associated Public Schools of Victoria championship with Brighton Grammar in 2024, as part of the school's undefeated season.[10] For his performances, Trainor was named in the Herald Sun's APS team of the year.[11]

In the same year, Trainor's representative side, the Sandringham Dragons, claimed the Talent League premiership, though Trainor missed playing most of the finals series with a concussion sustained in an earlier match.[4] He finished the season averaging 19.8 disposals, 5.6 marks, 2.4 intercept marks and 6 intercept possessions per game and was selected in the league's Team of the Year.[12][13]

In the week prior to the 2024 AFL draft, Trainor was projected by AFL Media and the Herald Sun to be selected with the 28th and 29th pick, respectively.[5][12]

AFL career

Trainor was drafted by Richmond with the club's fifth pick and the 21st selection overall in the 2024 AFL draft.[14] He recorded 12 disposals and four marks in Richmond's only official pre-season match and subsequently earned selection for an AFL debut in the club's first match of the regular season; a round 1 victory over Carlton which also featured the debuts of fellow first-round draftees Sam Lalor and Harry Armstrong.[15][16] After three matches, Trainor was ranked second among 2025 AFL Rising Star eligible players for both metres gained and one-percenters as well as third for kicks and marks that season.[17]

Player profile

Trainor plays as a hybrid defender, with particular skills in intercepting and rebounding from defence. His playing style was compared pre-draft to Geelong's Tom Stewart.[12][18]

Personal life

Trainor is the grandson of Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee Doug Wade, nephew of AFL Commission member and former Greater Western Sydney board member Gabrielle Trainor, grandson of Tony Trainor who served as North Melbourne President from 1965 to 1971 and great-grandson of Frank Trainor who was President of the same club from 1937 to 1952.[2]

References

  1. ^ Cavanagh, Chris (27 November 2024). "AFL Draft 2024: Victorian private schools dominate as Brighton Grammar leads the way". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  2. ^ a b Gleeson, Michael (21 November 2024). "You might not have heard of new Tiger Luke Trainor – but you've definitely heard of his grandfather". The Age. Nine Entertainment. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  3. ^ "2022 NAB AFL National Development Championships U16 Boys All-Australian Team". AFL.com.au. 3 August 2022. Archived from the original on 12 September 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  4. ^ a b Birch, Dylan (11 November 2024). "'All in black and white!': Top draft prospect reveals advice from legendary goalkicker grandfather". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  5. ^ a b Twomey, Callum (18 November 2025). "Cal Twomey's Phantom Draft: Top 30, late picks, whispers". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  6. ^ "2024 Marsh AFL National Championships U18 Boys All Australian Team announced". AFL Media. Telstra Media. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  7. ^ Jovanovski, Jack (14 July 2024). "'Couldn't write a script like this': Vic Metro claim U18 title in wild finish decided by shock 50m penalty". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  8. ^ Twomey, Callum (14 July 2024). "Dramatic late 50m penalty hands Metro championship win over Country". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  9. ^ Alvaro, Michael (14 July 2024). "Vic Metro snatches Under 18 title after siren". Rookie Me Central. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  10. ^ Lewis, Tyler (5 August 2024). "APS: Brighton Grammar has officially taken out the 2024 football premiership". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  11. ^ Batten, Dan (8 August 2024). "Our Associated Public Schools of Victoria footy Team of the Year". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  12. ^ a b c Cavanagh, Chris (13 November 2024). "AFL Phantom draft 2024: Chris Cavanagh maps out the top 35 picks on the AFL Draft". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  13. ^ "Kevin Sheehan's 2024 Telstra AFL Draft top prospects: Tall defenders". AFL Media. Telstra Media. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  14. ^ "Tiger Trainor: Richmond selects Luke Trainor". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
  15. ^ "Lalor, Armstrong and Trainor to debut in Round 1". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 10 March 2025. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  16. ^ Smith, Martin (12 March 2025). "TEAMS: Recruit named, six new faces for Tigers-Blues blockbuster". AFL.com.au. Archived from the original on 13 March 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
  17. ^ Greenberg, Tony (30 March 2025). "Train rolls on". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  18. ^ Greenberg, Tony (29 November 2024). "Trainor's impressive adaptability". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 8 April 2025.