Trainor thriving as Richmond role playerBy Anna Pavlou
AFL Media
Sep 16, 2025Richmond defender Luke Trainor didn't take long to slot into the bright lights and big time of playing AFL.
It was in Round 1, on his debut, when the Tigers overcame Carlton by 13 points, that the 19-year-old felt like he belonged in the yellow and black.
"Round 1, you can't go past that. That was a pretty special win," Trainor told Richmond Media.
"I got a lot of confidence coming out of that game. I just knew I loved being out there from that first moment.
"It was a fun season. It was great coming in with a lot of young boys. We had some great wins, some great learnings and it was a fun year to be a part of."
On a personal note, Trainor played 21 games, the most of anyone in his 2024 draft class at the Club, and averaged 14 disposals and nine kicks.
He was swung across the ground, heading forward at times, but found his confidence and niche down back.
"I played a lot of positions. I think I played every line on the ground. Backline is definitely the one for me. I played a lot of my junior football there," Trainor said.
"That's where I want to see myself playing in the future."
The role-playing mentality, that is so well-known and celebrated within the Swinburne Centre, is a behaviour Trainor was encouraged and trusted to abide by, as explained to him by his coaches.
"They (the coaches) had a lot of confidence in me that I could use my versatility all around the ground. When a few of the boys got injured and went down, some roles opened up. They had a lot of trust in me to fill those roles," he said.
"I just love having a role to play and helping the team out."
It wasn't always easy for the teenager, who had to swiftly learn how to navigate losses and come out stronger on the other side.
"It was a lot about just learning to grind out games when the opposition had a bit of a lead," he said.
"I took a lot of learnings from that and will use them to play out games stronger next year."
Another challenge the teenager faced was being utilised as a substitute on a number of occasions. While it looked like it frustrated the youngster at times, he knows it was part of a long-term plan to help build his fitness.
"It was challenging. But as a first-year player, they're going to look after your body and manage you," he said.
"Even if you want to be out there playing, but I know they were doing everything to look after me."
And after playing nearly every game in his debut season, it's no surprise that the young defender is taking a necessary amount of time to reset before a massive pre-season.
"I'm a bit sore. I will be resting up and recharging. But we're really not too far away from pre-season. I'll be doing everything right to get myself ready to go," he said.
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1895654/luke-trainor-season-review
