Two-ton Trent

Trent is only the eighth player in our 40-year history to achieve the feat. In the most recent previous occurrences, both Dean Lawson and Arosha Perera achieved the double in the 2008/09 season.

Trent has played the season in our Firsts, but due to a Saturday non-availability on the December 10/11 weekend, he captained the Fifths in a one-day Sunday game.

Trent knocked up 121 in leading the side to a win over Avondale Heights.

He followed up with a game in the Eighths against Royal Park Reds on December 18, and clobbered the bowlers to all parts of the ground before he reached 100 – the compulsory retirement mark in the NWMCA one-day grades.

President Charlie Walker said he was impressed with Trent’s commitment to play for the lower grades and lead by example in a fortnight when he was not available for the Firsts.

“Trent did a wonderful job batting with some of the young players in the Eighths, talking them through and encouraging them all the way,” Charlie said.

“He did the match wrap-up in the huddle at the end. He highlighted the cost of the dropped catches, but was still positive and encouraging, pointing out the things that our players did right.

“Trent identified what he sees as some good prospects playing in the game – such as Daniel Comande, a promising leg-spinner in his first year out of Under 16s who made 47. He was also impressed with Matt Esmore, an off-spinner in his first season in Under 16s.

“Trent will ensure that the selectors and captains in the higher grades are aware of these players.

“Following on from the job he did leading from the front in the Fifths the previous week, Trent has certainly enhanced his reputation as a leader and motivator in his first year at our Club,” Charlie said.

Trent said that while he enjoyed making his centuries in the Fifths and Eighths, he was keen to carry his good form with the bat back into the Firsts after Christmas. He has made several starts in the Firsts without going on with it.

His good form and his leadership around the Club certainly vindicate the effort that First Eleven captain Mark Gauci put in to trying to recruit Trent to Moonee Valley over a number of seasons – work which is certainly paying off now.