By Beth Newman
Nathan Trevena is looking for a fresh start with Surfers Paradise this season.
After an injury-marred stint with Southport, where he played one senior game, Trevena is keen to make an impact at the Demons.
“I haven’t had the best run with injuries but in the last six months I came good,” he said.
“It’s probably the first time since I’ve moved up here that I’ve had a full pre-season, uninterrupted
“I haven’t been this fit since I was 17/18 playing in the SANFL ,so when you’re feeling this good it’s quite different.
“I just thought it was time to have a good red hot crack against some quality opposition.”
The South Australian came to Queensland after playing in the SANFL, and said there was definitely a lot to adjust to in the northern game style.
“Up here, there not as many big bodies and down there, there are a lot of guys who have played AFL footy have been listed with an AFL club that go back to have a crack in the SANFL and try and work their way up down there,” he said,
“From that respect, there’s a better quality down there, but up here it’s just fun, it’s faster and there’s a lot more outside players.”
That outside play will suit Trevena, who has played the bulk of his footy on the flanks or in the midfield, just fine.
After a series of injury-interrupted years, Trevena said he had learned one crucial lesson from his time in the NEAFL and SANFL.
“When you play at that higher level, it’s not just about rocking up on Saturday and playing footy, there’s a lot of preparation involved,” he said.
“What a lot of young kids out here will learn, especially coming up to this next level, is you’ve got to prepare right.”
While he’s only been at the Demons a few months, Trevena said he had felt welcome since day one.
“Nobody wants to do anything wrong by the group and I guess that’s one thing I noticed from day one was the culture. “
At 23, Trevena has plenty of quality experience to pass on to the Demons’ younger brigade, and he is keen to share that.
“I think the best way to grow not only as a club but individually is pass on your knowledge,” he said.
“We’re all out to learn, it doesn’t matter where we’ve played, we’ve all got some input into what we want to and that builds the culture.
“We’re all in this together and I enjoy getting around a few of the younger kids and trying to help them out.”
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The QAFL has been reformed in season 2014 due to a restructure of the NEAFL competition.
The Queensland Australian Football League aspires to be the best community-based football competition in the state. Provide a player pathway to the NEAFL/AFL and provide opportunities for the best community players to represent their clubs in a quality competition.
Clubs applied for a QAFL licence based on 6 core pillars (Administration, Finance, Brand & Culture, Performance, Facilities and Strategic Plan).
