CODE Sports
www.codesports.com.au
James Trezise can’t quite believe his rise in the VFL this year.
Adam Oxley can believe it.
Former Collingwood wingman Oxley played in a premiership with Trezise at West Gippsland club Tooradin-Dalmore last season and formed the view the 20-year-old belonged at a higher level.
As it was, a Tooradin-Dalmore connection to Richmond VFL took him to Tigerland.
Former Brisbane Lions rookie Blake Grewar, who also figured in the flag last year, had played with the VFL Tigers and, through coach Steve Morris, recommended they invite Trezise to pre-season training.
They did.
He made the list.
And he has since emerged as one of the state league’s most exciting prospects.
After being asked by the AFL to present for a medical, Trezise is even considered a chance for next Wednesday’s AFL mid-season draft.
“I didn’t expect anything like this,’’ he says.
“I was stressing out that I wouldn’t even sign a contract, that they wouldn’t offer me one.
“After that, everything has caught me by surprise.
“After signing, it was all about just trying to get a game, and once that happened I just wanted to stay in the side.’’
The 188cm Trezise has played every game for the Tigers.
After his performance against Carlton, when he had 16 possessions, four marks and gunned a goal from outside 50m, Morris called him a “super exciting player’’.
“The X-factor that he has was on show in and around the footy, and kicked a beautiful goal from long range in the first quarter,’’ Morris told the club website.
James Trezise has quickly made a big impression in his first VFL season. Picture: Supplied
Trezise’s stand-out effort came in Round 8 against Geelong, when he had 29 disposals and collected 10 marks.
It led to more lift-off from Morris.
“Best game for the year for James. He’s been improving each week, but I thought he was fantastic defensively,’’ the coach said. “He’s an extremely good one-versus-one player and won the ball back a number of times for us.’’
Trezise was taken aback when he received an email from AFL high-performance manager Paul Sealy about the medical.
He is surprised recruiters have noticed him.
“Bit shocked, to be honest. I’ve only played the eight games of VFL footy,’’ he says. “Now people are saying, ‘You could be a chance’.’’
Trezise, a business and marketing student at Swinburne University, came out of the strong Berwick Junior Football Club.
He made two interleague teams but none of the Dandenong Stingrays programs.
The Covid pandemic meant Trezise didn’t get on the park much in 2020 or 2021. Picture: Supplied
After joining Tooradin-Dalmore to play in the under 18s and impressing enough to make the West Gippsland under-age side, Trezise was promoted for a senior debut in 2019.
But he played no football in 2020 because of Covid and had 10 games in 2021 before the pandemic killed off the season.
Last year, then, was his first full season in senior company.
The left-footer kicked 26 goals, had eight mentions in the best and helped Tooradin-Dalmore to its first senior premiership in 25 years. He played in the forward line and had a run in the ruck.
Adam Oxley played 34 AFL games for Collingwood before linking up with Tooradin-Dalmore. Picture: AAP Image/Julian Smith
Whatever his position, he took the eye of Oxley.
“I’m in my third year at Tooradin and from my first few weeks there I could see there was something special about him,’’ Oxley tells CODE Sports.
“He put on a bit of size last year and he’s always been super-athletic with a vertical leap as good as I’ve ever seen. The main thing that jumped out at me was his defensive skills. He loves tackling, and his tackles stick like a vice.
“The longer last year went on he gained more and more confidence and won us a lot of games off his own boot. He played everywhere too. That’s another string to his bow, his versatility. He’s a good forward, he can play a bit of wing. I see Richmond have chucked him back and he’s even gone in the ruck.’’
What is his best position?
Oxley thinks he’s a “natural forward with his cat-like reflexes and his hangers’’.
“But I could easily see him being a half-back flanker, taking plenty of intercept marks and kicking the ball well, because his kicking is amazing,’’ he says.
“You could call him the ultimate swingman.’’
Oxley is enjoying watching Trezise make his mark at Punt Rd, noting his “trajectory is trending in the right direction’’.
He says it’s not silly to think Trezise could play an AFL game later in the season if he’s selected in the mid-season draft.
“If a club has a few injuries, he could slide in, just because of that utility style he shows.’’
Trezise appreciates Tooradin-Dalmore’s part in his jump to the VFL.
Last year he played alongside not only Oxley and Grewar, but AFL premiership Magpie Brent Macaffer and ex-Richmond rookie Piva Wright.
He says they all gave him a lot of advice and encouragement, and supported him trying to go to the VFL, as did coach Lachie Gillespie.
Similarly, he says Morris and the other Richmond coaching staff have backed him at every turn.
In Trezise’s absence, Tooradin-Dalmore has named an award after him this season.
The defensive player of the week is given ‘The Jimmy Award’.
“I don’t even know if anyone has told him yet,’’ Oxley says.
James Trezise might not believe it anyway.
Richmond VFL operations manager and recruiting office Oliver Grant on James Trezise
‘Jim’s become a much-loved member of the group since joining our program. His investment in football and subsequent development has been exponential and we are very proud of the position he now finds himself in. He’s an exciting player and a terrific young man.’’
‘Jim’s become a much-loved member of the group since joining our program. His investment in football and subsequent development has been exponential and we are very proud of the position he now finds himself in. He’s an exciting player and a terrific young man.’’
central.rookieme.com
