‘All in black and white!’: Top draft prospect reveals advice from legendary goalkicker grandfather

Luke Trainor has footy running through his blood.

Trainor, arguably the best key defensive prospect in this year’s draft pool, is the grandson of legendary goalkicker Doug Wade, who is fifth for most goals of all-time.

Trainor obviously never saw Wade play in the flesh but says his superstar grandfather often reminds him of his exploits at the top level.

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“I’ve read a lot about it; not sure I can watch much given it’s all in black and white!” Trainor told foxfooty.com.au.

“He lives down in Geelong at the moment, so we catch up, he’s pretty laid back. He keeps me humbled and brags on about his footy — not mine — but yeah, he’s awesome.

“He gets to some of my games, like when I played school footy down in Geelong. He gets to all the big games like grand finals as well.”

Trainor’s dad, Anthony, has worked in the business side of things at North Melbourne and Collingwood, as did his uncle Francis, while his aunty, Gabrielle, is an AFL Commissioner.

He’s always had a footy in his hands.

“I had a footy in my hands whenever I was able to walk really. Funny story, in my first AusKick session I actually cried because I wanted to go home. I don’t know how I ended up falling in love with footy,” Trainor laughed.

“I loved going to the footy with my dad, sitting boundary side and seeing all the players go about their work. You just want to be out there; it’s been a dream since I was a little kid.”

The defender, who compares himself to Geelong gun Tom Stewart, said he would “play wherever” at AFL level having also shown glimpses as a forward target.

A highly touted prospect for a number of years, Trainor captured the attention of the wider footy world during the National Championships, where he booted a goal after the siren to claim the title for Vic Metro.

The star defender was thrust forward in the final moments of the game and after being awarded a free kick in a marking contest, Trainor then also received a 50-metre penalty – seemingly for dissent, marching him right to the goal line.

“Before the game Rob (Harding) came up to me and said, ‘if we need you forward in the last couple of minutes, we’ll throw you down there’. Funnily enough in the last quarter it was getting pretty tight. There was a contest where I jarred my knee and I was trying to get off, but they thought I was putting my hand up to go forward. Rob was on the mic to one of the other coaches and he was screaming at me to get forward. I was absolutely cooked; I could not walk,” said Trainor, who also has an elite basketball background.

“The adrenaline kicked in and I was hobbling all the way down. I got the free kick, I still don’t know what the 50 was for to this day, but the rest was history.

“I looked up at the scoreboard and the sirens on 25 minutes, so I sooked it up and just waited, ‘nah boys I’m taking this one!’. When I moved into the backline, I thought I’d never kick one after the siren, but you never know what might happen. It was such a cool feeling, celebrating with all my teammates.”

Trainor was also selected in the AFL Academy this year and was awarded best on ground in their clash against Coburg earlier this year.

Trainor’s intercepting skills and ability to turn defence into offence was evident that day as he affirmed his status as a potential first round pick.

“It was awesome, in juniors I always looked up and wanted to wear that Australian jumper. The experiences and opportunities that came with that were awesome. That first camp you get invited into all these AFL-standard facilities and I got to spend a week with the Saints for a week over the summer,” he said.

“That was a great insight to experience what it was like to be an AFL footballer and gave me a lot of hunger and drive to want to end up with that lifestyle. The two games we played were really cool, stepping up a level and playing with the best of the best while representing your country. It was such an honour and one of the best programs I’ve been a part of.”

Trainor also spent a week training at St Kilda in the pre-season, an experience he says was invaluable.

“There’s so much more to it than the two hours you’re out on the training track. You get there really early, go through vision with your coaches and there’s heaps of extra craft. They really look after you as well, with your diet, nutrition and all this professional stuff that makes you really elite,” he said.

As a result of his exceptional form in previous years, the Sandringham Dragons star went into 2024 with plenty of external expectation.

But Trainor has certainly shown why clubs rate him so highly.

The versatile swingman averaged 19.8 disposals, 5.8 marks and 4.8 rebound 50s during his Metro campaign, stopping some of the draft’s best forwards in the process.

“You can’t really buy into all the media stuff, it’s pretty cool to see your name on stuff but you can’t really buy into it. You hear all sorts of things, but as long as you know and your support network is giving you good feedback, they’re the only people I listen to,” he said.

The Brighton Grammar jet is still regularly in contact with former Dragon Ryley Sanders, who has been a great support in a tough year.

“I’m pretty close to Ryley Sanders, we always catch up every now and then. We’re always talking about footy and how it’s going and just normal life really. He’s been a really good mate to lean on for advice,” Trainor said.

But while 2024 has seen Trainor experience plenty of success, it hasn’t all been sunshine and rainbows.

Trainor was put in concussion protocols after suffering a concussion in the Dragons’ finals series and the mandated 21 days meant he missed out on the premiership success.

Despite the heartbreak of missing a grand final, Trainor was stoked for some of his closest mates.

“It was a bit weird, you’re so happy for your teammates though. People like Levi (Ashcroft) winning three flags, Murphy (Reid) won it last year as well, you’re just so proud of everyone and seeing all the smiles around the room was awesome. Winning a flag is a great feeling, you’re just so proud of everyone,” he said.

But now the attention turns to the upcoming draft on November 20, where Trainor and plenty of other hopefuls will be hoping to realise their childhood dreams.

Trainor wouldn’t mind moving interstate and while the dream is to make it onto an AFL list, the avid North Melbourne fan said landing at the Roos would “be an absolute honour”.

“It would be an absolute honour. I think already having that love and passion for the club, having been around there as a kid and supporting them through it. I’d love to see North be back on the winner’s list and have some silverware. It’s every kids dream going to a club they support,” he said.

The Telstra AFL Draft begins on November 20.