STRENGTHS:

+ Competitiveness
+ Intercept marking
+ Kicking
+ Reading the play
+ Versatility
+ Vertical leap

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Defensive craft
- Lockdown ability

Having climbed through the junior ranks as a forward, Trainor has now found a home down back but still has the swingman ability in his arsenal. He most famously utilised it in the dying stages of Vic Metro's title-deciding win over Vic Country, where he made the move forward and kicked the winning goal after the siren. At either end, his contested marking is a gift.

Trainor's time as a forward has translated to sound reading of the play in defence, where he peels off his opponent to intercept prolifically. His greatest athletic trait is his vertical leap, and he uses it to leap at the ball with confidence and courage. Arguably his top performance in that regard came in the first AFL Academy game against Coburg, where he was best afield.

Trainor also regards himself as a competitor and hates to be beaten - though, outpointing him aerially is a task in itself. He still has a ways to go in terms of enhancing his pure defensive craft and has been working on his ability to lock down on an opponent. He did so quite well against South Australia, where he kept Tyler Welsh goalless for three quarters.

Another of Trainor's most valuable assets is his kicking. He is often tasked with the kick-in duties and backs himself to pick off aggressive passes. He hits the ball sweetly and gets good penetration, which allows for opportunistic switches of the play or looks inboard. Although, selecting the low-percentage option sometimes puts his side as risk of costly turnovers.

Usually quite composed, Trainor's ball use wavered a touch during the National Championships, where the pace of the game was at its highest. He looked a little rushed under pressure at times, but was competitive enough to chase up his mistakes, and confident enough to continue to back his skills. As far as talls go, few can distribute or rebound the ball better.

There may be some debate as to where Trainor will fit in best at the next level. While likely to hit the right height, he is arguably not a genuine key defender who will match up on the best forward, but rather a third tall who can focus on intercepting and initiating transitions. If allowed to play to his strengths and attack in a defensive system, he will thrive.