TRAINOR AN EARLY STANDOUT
Chris Cavanagh
A Victorian key defender caught the attention of recruiters as he played a starring role for the AFL Academy side in a key exhibition match on Saturday.
Luke Trainor pushed his draft stocks in a match against VFL side Coburg at Ikon Park, overshadowing a host of top-10 prospects to secure the best-on-ground medal with a huge performance down back.
The 194cm Sandringham Dragons product continually read the play well, was solid one-on-one against some bigger bodied opponents and took some quality intercept marks.
He also provided plenty of drive off half-back for the AFL Academy side, racking up 20 disposals.
Trainor trained with St Kilda during pre-season and has drawn comparisons to Essendon’s Jordan Ridley.
Some believe that he could also be developed into a tall forward in time.
In a draft pool that is expected to be dominated by midfielders at the top of the order, Trainor shapes as one of the leading key position prospects early in the year.
A quartet of father-son prospects also shone brightly in the AFL Academy’s 27-point loss to Coburg.
Levi Ashcroft – who is a father-son option for the Brisbane Lions – was the leading possession winner on the ground with 33 disposals playing a mix of midfield and forward roles.
Ashcroft also logged five clearances and kicked a nice goal in the third quarter.
Carlton father-son prospects Lucas and Ben Camporeale were both prolific across the afternoon.
Lucas racked up 25 disposals and seven rebound-50s playing primarily on the wing, while Ben gathered 24 disposals and two clearances spending his time across half-back and onball.
Adelaide father-son Tyler Welsh, son of Scott Welsh, also caught the eye as a strong marking key forward, finishing with eight disposals, seven marks and a goal.
Other standouts included Gold Coast Suns Academy midfielder Leonardo Lombard (18 disposals, one goal) and Victorian midfielders Jagga Smith (22 disposals) and Josh Smillie (20 disposals).
Late inclusion Taj Hotton – who spent time on a wing and forward – gathered 16 disposals and kicked two goals.
The AFL Academy is set to play a second match against Footscray’s VFL side on April 27 or 28.