Pick 21: Luke Trainor

[one-eyed]

Season surprises

Andrew Slevison
SEN
8 May 2025

Which player at your club has most exceeded expectations in the first part of the 2025 season?

Luke Trainor

Of Richmond’s haul of first-round draft picks, Luke Trainor might have had the lowest profile of the lot.

The no-nonsense defender was taken with Pick 21 in last year’s draft and simply gaining some minutes at senior level would have been seen as invaluable in his debut campaign.

But Trainor has barely put a foot wrong since pulling on the black and yellow and has been arguably the club’s brightest shining light so far in 2025.

While No.1 pick Sam Lalor clearly has plenty of class, he’s toiling away in a high half-forward role which is difficult for anyone, let alone a first-year player.

Lalor’s highlights have been bright and while he’ll likely flourish further with more midfield minutes, Trainor has been the pick of the crop to date as an assured defender with an innate intercept ability.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2025/05/07/the-player-at-your-club-who-has-exceeded-expectations-in-2025