Past Trent Knobel (1999-2001)

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Pick 54 in the 1998 Rookie Draft

 

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Wikipedia

Trent Knobel (born 23 May 1980) is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. Knobel, a ruckman originally from the Gold Coast, was recruited to the AFL in his home state with the Brisbane Lions onto their rookie list. He made his debut in 2000 after a rookie elevation. After getting his chance in Round 14, Knobel held his spot for much of the season, and played in two finals matches. After a disappointing 2001 season, and with the Lions having an abundance of ruck stocks (Keating, McLaren, McDonald, Macdonald among others), they traded him to St Kilda.

After fairly limited seasons with the Saints in 2002 and 2003, his 2004 season was much improved, playing all 24 games and becoming the Saints' number one ruckman. Despite his crash and bash ruckwork and tally of 460 hitouts for the year, he was criticised for his lack of around the ground work, averaging just 6 disposals in 2004.

This led to him being traded in the 2005 pre-season draft to the Richmond Football Club. In 2005, he missed 3 games late in the year with a hamstring injury but performed better around the ground.
In 2006, Knobel played just 3 games and found it hard for selection due to the form of All-Australian ruckman Troy Simmonds. Due to ongoing injury concerns Knobel was unable to play a senior game in 2007 and announced his retirement from AFL football on 28 August 2007.

Statistics:

afl tables
footywire
final siren

 

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Lions Give Knobel His First Big Prize
The Age
Friday June 9, 2000
LEN JOHNSON

No more than a handful of years ago, it seemed more likely that Trent Knobel would follow the career path of ``superfish" Kieren Perkins than ``the Fish", Paul Salmon. Born in the northern New South Wales town of Mullumbimby, the lanky young Gold Coast schoolkid showed precocious swimming talent. A training partner of Olympic swimmer Grant Hackett, Knobel won under-age titles in both pool and surf. In 1996, a friend in year 11 at Broadbeach talked Knobel into giving footy a try. Last night, he was selected in Brisbane's senior team to play the Kangaroos in a vital match at Colonial Stadium tonight.

At 202 centimetres and 100 kilograms, just on a fortnight past his 20th birthday, Knobel is unlikely to be intimidated, even by the thought of playing against the reigning premier in a must-win match. Asked to say a few words about him at training yesterday, Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews responded succinctly: ``Tall, very tall and strong, marks the ball all right. He's played very well at the reserve level. He's the 200-centimetre big, tall ruckman with a bit of body strength for a young bloke."

 

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Tret Knobel traded to St Kilda

The Brisbane Lions exchange Shannon Rusca and Marcus Picken to the Western Bulldogs for its third round selection (currently number 49 on-traded).

The Brisbane Lions exchange Trent Knobel and its third round selection (currently number 49 on-traded) to St Kilda for its third round selection (currently number 45 on-traded).

 

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BigFooty thread - Trent Knobel a Saint

I remember hearing the commentators say that he is used to train with Grant Hackett. Apparently he's a top athlete. Not sure about his football ability but I guess he was always going to be behind Keating and McDonald in the pecking order at Brisbane.

I think he's a worthwhile investment. Particularly as it seems like we've got him for nothing anyway.

Brisbane has a good group of young ruckman & he was obviously seen as surplus!

Similar type to Beau McDonald. Probably a year or two behind him in his development, though.

Hasn't had much game time since Keating came back from injury, but in 2000 was basically the club's second ruck. Looked promising at the time but Charman and McLaren, who are more mobile, are in greater favour at the moment.

My assessment of him is that he's a reasonable tap ruckman but is of less value around the ground. The Lions have quite a few ruck options at the moment so the obviously felt they needed a couple of extra picks in what appears to be a deep draft.

Good luck Knobby.

 

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Hamill, Knobel in doubt for Saints
By Karen Lyon
June 10 2003

Knobel slammed into the ground at the opening bounce of the final quarter and was driven off on the motorised stretcher and taken to hospital. Thomas said it was believed that Knobel's concussion was not too severe.
"Some time ago he had some neck problems in his youth and they wanted to make sure that everything was OK," he said.

 

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Knobel out for rest of year
By Bridie Smith
June 12 2003

Knobel will be out of action for at least 12 weeks after landing heavily in a ruck contest during the five-point win over Brisbane at Telstra Dome on Saturday night and being taken from the ground concussed. Further tests revealed he had received damage to the No. 1 vertebra, forcing him to spend the next six weeks in a neck brace.

 

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Knobel intentions
Jon Ralph
22Aug04

Trent Knobel need only gaze across the Gabba centre square at rucking counterpart Clark Keating today to see what can be achieved with a modicum of talent and a lot of heart. For these two former Gold Coast juniors there is none of the finesse or fancy tapwork of Luke Darcy or Peter Everitt. Instead, the job description is simply to nullify high-leaping opponents or, in the words of Knobel, 'be ultra-competitive'. Both are a throwback to a former era; the personification of the bash-and-crash ruckman.

 

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Link

St Kilda has bought itself an extra fortnight to convince Trent Knobel and Jason Blake to stay, but those players' bargaining position has been weakened by the appearance of another ruckman on the market.

The 16 AFL clubs submitted their initial pre-draft player lists, with a further two weeks until the final pre-draft list had to be lodged. The Saints list retained Knobel and Blake, who are both out of contract and reportedly dissatisfied with the terms of proposed new contracts and prepared to put themselves into the draft.

St Kilda was facing difficulty finding room under the salary cap to retain the pair after signing big-money deals with some of its banner players.
Their retention on the lodged list meant St Kilda now had two weeks to convince one or the other to stay.

Link

St Kilda's bullish prospects in 2005 are in danger of being undermined, with ruckman Trent Knobel quitting the club and his centre-square offsider, Jason Blake, considering his future.

Knobel told the Saints late last week that he considered their offer a poor reflection upon his contribution this year, in which he played 24 games, and he severed his ties with the club.

Link

Knobel told the Saints late last week that he considered their offer a poor reflection upon his contribution this year, in which he played 24 games, and he severed his ties with the club.

His agent, Dan Richardson of ESP, said last night that Knobel would nominate for the pre-season draft unless he was delisted by the Saints tomorrow, a move that would allow him to nominate for the earlier national draft.

"Trent feels that he can find a better opportunity elsewhere," Richardson said. "He knows where he is at. He's a realist but it became apparent to him that his view and St Kilda's weren't shared."

Knobel played 41 games for the Saints in his three seasons at Moorabbin, after leaving the Brisbane Lions at the end of the 2001 season, and his exit threatens to leave the club vulnerable in the ruck, where it is recognised to be at best adequate.

 

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Tigers set to snatch Knobel
December 14, 2004 08:38:00

The Richmond Football Club is expected to pick former St Kilda ruckman Trent Knobel in the AFL pre-season draft this morning.

Knobel now a Tiger
14Dec04

Richmond has chosen former St Kilda ruckman Trent Knobel with the first pick at Tuesday's National Bank's AFL Pre-Season Draft. Knobel had been training with Carlton since being delisted by the Saints, but the Tigers swooped on him first in a bid for more ruck support for Greg Stafford and Troy Simmonds.

Link

NOT SO long ago, the thing that Carlton needed was very, very clear. And on pre-season draft day in December 2004, with pick No. 2 in their pocket, the Blues were certain they could fill the gap. "It's just unfortunate it didn't work out the way it was going to," said coach Denis Pagan, after discarded St Kilda ruckman Trent Knobel, who had trained with the Blues for two months, was pinched by Richmond with the No. 1 pick.

Link

Carlton recruiting manager Wayne Hughes was under instructions to find a ruckman but, when Richmond picked Trent Knobel, the strategy changed."We then selected the best player available, which was Eddie," Hughes said.

 

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Knobel a key in coach's plans
By Dan Oakes
December 15, 2004

Richmond coach Terry Wallace yesterday described new ruckman Trent Knobel as a pivotal figure in his two-step plan to rejuvenate the wallowing club. The Tigers picked up the 202-centimetre former Saint in yesterday's pre-season draft to lift ruck stocks depleted by Brad Ottens' departure for Geelong.

"Players like Wayne Campbell and Greg Stafford and Matthew Richardson don't want to be hearing about five-year plans; they might not be around to see those things out. Trent fits into the immediate future, when you have a look at Mark Graham coming to the club, Troy Simmonds and now Trent, that's the immediate future, that we have got a different structure about the way we'll go about it straight from round one next year.

"But Trent also fits into our long-term plans, being 24 years of age . . . with Troy and Trent being in that position, we know that we've got two key big men that are going to be around for an extended period of time."

 

[Mazza44]

I will never forget that jump against us where he knocked himself out. I was sitting next to my cousin who is a saints fan and he was moaning about him all night before it happened.

 

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Knobel and Simmonds lead hit-outs to Advantage
May 4, 2005

Trent Knobel has had only 15 kicks and 31 handballs this season, but Knobel has one important talent that doesnt show up readily on the stats sheet.

When it comes to ruckwork at centre bounces and throw ins he has emerged as a key to Richmonds resurrection.

Knobel is leading the competition in hit-outs to advantage, well ahead of widely regarded kings of the craft Peter Everitt and Jeff White.

Of Knobels 81 hit-outs in six outings, 37 per cent have gone to teammates, putting them in a position to launch an attack (a Hit-out to Advantage)

White is tracking at 26.6% in the stat, Everitt at 25.2%. Only 27% of all hit-outs this year have gone to advantage. 40% have gone to a neutral situation, 34% have been sharked by the opposition.

Knobels taps have only been sharked 23.5% of the time, meaning he is at plus 13.5% when it comes to hit-outs to advantage vs sharked hit-outs.

Shane Tuck is Knobels favourite target. Six times this year Knobel has banged it to Tuck at centre bounces.

 

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Knobel endeavour boon to Tigers
Malcolm Conn
The Australian
July 15, 2005

TRENT KNOBEL talks of a quiet resolve to further prove himself against his former club, St Kilda, tomorrow but must still be suffering a rawness following his humiliating departure from Moorabbin late last year.

The Richmond ruckman is eternally grateful for another opportunity and will lead the Tigers' ruck division in a match so important it is likely to decide which of these two topsy-turvy sides will play in the finals this season.

While Knobel insists he only wants to look forward and constantly refers to how much he is enjoying life at Punt Road, there was a time, however brief, when he must have wondered if he still had a league career.

For not only did St Kilda coach Grant Thomas sack Knobel, it is lore that Thomas laid a disproportionate amount of blame on his ruckman's broad shoulders for the Saints' one-goal preliminary final loss to eventual premier Port Adelaide.

 

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Knobel enjoys a dip
Matt Burgan
12:00 AM Tue 17 Jan, 2006

When ruckman Trent Knobel emerged from the water first after Richmond's one-kilometre open-water swim at Torquay last weekend, no-one at Tigerland was at all surprised.

That's because the 25-year-old grew up on the Gold Coast, was a 'nipper' (a young Surf Live Saver) as a child and now stands at 202 centremetres - rather handy when you've got hands as big as paddles and flipper-sized feet.

"I did a lot of junior swimming and nippers when I was growing up on the Gold Coast, so it's something that I've always enjoyed and I still surf as well, so it's something I enjoy - especially ocean swimming," Knobel said.

"I did compete when I was younger, but I gave it away when I was 12 or 13, so it's something that I enjoyed and I loved the competition when I was younger, but I burnt myself out because I started when I was five.

"It's something that I was glad to give up in the end, but I still enjoy swimming and surfing.

"Swimming is probably designed for a taller person and I've got the big feet and the big hands."

 

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Lovin' life as a Tiger
10:07:03 AM Thu 1 June, 2006
Jennifer Witham

Richmond ruckman Trent Knobel has more than one reason to smile as he works his way through his second season in the yellow and black.

Finally overcoming the leg fracture that had the big man sidelined for the first seven rounds, Knobel has slotted his way back into the side and has formed a dangerous rucking duo with former Docker Troy Simmonds.

In the past two weeks, Knobel has enjoyed a total of 31 hitouts and has been prolific in the Tigers' victories over Adelaide and Geelong. But his promising return to form isn't the only thing making the 26-year-old happy – he thinks he's finally found his niche in football at Punt Road.

"I'm really loving it (at Richmond), it's been fantastic and all the boys have been fantastic and the coach has been great," Knobel told richmondfc.com.au.

 

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Knobel’s chance to return
24 Feb, 2007 09:00 AM

RICHMOND coach Terry Wallace has called on Trent Knobel to find his best footy and make the most of the opportunity left by injury to first-choice ruckman Troy Simmonds.
After an injury-ravaged 2006 in which he only played three games, Knobel gets the chance to impress in the Tigers’ round one NAB Cup clash with Geelong tomorrow.

Side-lined with a fractured ankle, Simmonds won’t return until at least the opening round of the regular competition, leaving Knobel plenty of time to impress.

“He had a really poor run (with leg and ankle injuries) so you would expect him to be able to step up and play the footy he played 12 months ago. He’s been leading the way at training,” Wallace said.

 

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Ankle Sidelines Knobel Indefnitely
April 3, 2007 - 4:10PM

Wallace said Knobel's ankle injury was a mystery and he was likely to have more tests this week to determine the problem.

"We've just got to have a real look at him over the next few days and find out exactly what is going on with his ankle ailment," Wallace said on Tuesday.

"He played reserve grade level at the weekend and pulled up sore again.

"I don't think he'll play anywhere on the weekend and we'll have to do some further investigation to see whether it's a long term issue."

Tiger ruck crisis: Knobel may miss two months
5:55 PM Wed 11 Apr, 2007

RICHMOND’S injury woes continued today with ruckman Trent Knobel expected to miss the next six to eight weeks following ankle surgery. The 204cm playmaker underwent an arthroscopic operation on Tuesday evening to remove scar tissue from his left ankle. Knobel, limited to just three games last season with leg and ankle injuries, will now require 6-8 weeks of rehabilitation before resuming in the second-half of the 2007 season.

“It’s particularly disappointing for Trent. He’s put in a lot of hard work and was looking forward to the second year of his contract and offering more at senior level this season,” Armstrong said.
“He had an interrupted season last year, missing the first four games with a fractured leg and then injuring his ankle.
“The plan for him this year was to be a back-up for Troy Simmonds – and neither of them have played yet.”

 

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Knobel, Hall & Kingsley retire
5:39 PM Tue 28 August, 2007
By Catherine Murphy

THREE Richmond players - Ray Hall, Trent Knobel and Kent Kingsley - have announced their retirement from AFL football.

All three cited injury problems as the reason behind their decision to retire.

Trent Knobel failed to play a senior game this year due to a persistent ankle injury.

He played 21 games with the Tigers and kicked five goals, taking his overall AFL tally to 75 games and 12 goals.

"I'm very disappointed that's it's (my career) been cut short by the ankle injury but in saying that I'm looking forward to the next chapter in my life," Knobel said.

"I'm very thankful to the Richmond Football Club for throwing me a lifeline when they did. I've enjoyed my football here at Richmond as much as I've enjoyed it anywhere."

 

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Knobel prize for coast clubs
August 14th, 2007

WELL-TRAVELLED ruckman Trent Knobel is returning home to the Gold Coast.The 27-year-old, who has had stints with Brisbane, St Kilda and Richmond, confirmed this week that he has bought a house at Ashmore and is keen to play in the AFLQ next year.
Although there are whispers that he has already decided on a club, Knobel was non-committal when we contacted him. But he did reveal he has spoken to all three Coast clubs in AFLQ Division 1.
The whispers suggest Knobel will not be at Broadbeach, where he played for a season in 1998 after moving over from the Surfers Paradise under-18s. At 202cm, Knobel would be a handy pick-up, provided he can overcome leg injuries that have hampered him for the past two seasons.
In 2006 Knobel managed five games in the VFL and this year has not played at all after two ankle operations.

 

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Knobel a class above in ruck
Terry Wilson
arch 17th, 2008

LABRADOR'S Grogan medallist Todd Featherstone and fellow Tiger running players must be feeling like kids ready to invade a candy shop heading into the new AFL Queensland season. And the reason is the arrival of former AFL ruckman Trent Knobel at Cooke-Murphy Oval.
The Surfers Paradise junior product's forte has always been an ability to win centre knocks and he is certainly showing that in the pre-season stuff."Butch (Labrador coach Byron Donnellan) is already saying I should be strapped to his right leg," said Featherstone after Knobel dominated at the centre bounces.
"He pretty much wins every tap, so we know exactly where it's going, so we're looking forward to getting a lot of ball."

 

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KNOBEL MILESTONE A SIGN OF THE TIMES
Thursday 28 April 2011

Giant ruckman Trent Knobel celebrates his 50th game for Labrador at Graham Road on Saturday, a reflection of the stable structure at Tigerland over the last four years.

Knobel played his first game for Labrador in Round 1of 2008, the Tigers beating the premiers of the previous year Mt Gravatt by 14 points.

Knobel toyed with his opponents that day, much as he has done when fully fit ever since.

 

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Big Tiger Indicates A Long Association Ahead With Labrador
2011 NEAFL Record

Knobel's first flirtations with Australian football came with two season playing with Surfers Paradise under-9s, but he soon found a love for the water, both fresh and salt. Not many people know this - and it took wife Megan to reveal as much - but Knobel once beat future Australian long-distance star and dual Olympic 1500m gold medallist Grant hacket at junior competition level.

'I was a competitive swimmer from nine to 13," said Knobel, who rediscovered the national game as a 15-year-old when his Benowa State High team was short of ruckmen. He resumed playing the game, spent a year with Surfers Paradise uner-18s, then switched to Broadbeach in the QAFL.