Ceduna Blues Thompson family makes history by sharing league Mail Medals

A star SA country footy and netball family of medallists has made history after its youngest son took out this season’s Western Eyre Football League best and fairest award. See their story.

An SA country family has achieved a remarkable feat, with all three sons and both parents being awarded the exact same medal across 33 years of footy and netball.

Ceduna Blues U13/U14 player Laken Thompson took out the Western Eyre Football League best and fairest award this week, becoming the fifth and final person in his family to do so in that age group.

Brothers Bayln (2017 winner) and Jonty (2021 winner) Thompson also won the U13/U14 league medal while playing for Ceduna, and father Leigh won the medal in 1990 while playing for Thevenard.

Incredibly, mother Kelly Thompson also won the equivalent medal playing netball for Smoky Bay in 1991.

Laken, Jonty, Bayln and Leigh Thompson with their U13/U14 Western Eyre FL medals. Picture: Kelly Thompson

Kelly, who still plays senior netball at 44 years old for the Blues, said she did not know about the achievement until Laken received his medal.

“It’s quite funny because I didn’t even realise we had all won the league medal in the same age group until I called my mum to tell her about Laken,” she said.

“We were over the moon for Laken firstly, because he has worked very hard this year.

“We’re very stoked that we have all been able to achieve a league medal though, and to all do it at the exact same time is pretty crazy.”

Kelly Thompson still represents Ceduna in senior netball. Picture: Supplied

The Thompson family has had a major presence in Eyre Peninsula footy through a number of years now and Kelly said she was not surprised her sons were following in their parents’ footsteps.

“I guess they’ve followed on from what Leigh and I have been able to do at our clubs.

“Both of our families have good sporting ability and have tallied a number of achievements over the years.

“All the boys are pretty similar footballers to Leigh. They all play along the wing and across the forwardline and are very consistent.”

Leigh Thompson, Jonty Thompson, Kelly Thompson, Bayln Thompson and Uncle Spike (John) Dunn, also a Mail Medallist in the EP. Picture: Kelly Thompson

Both Jonty (16 years old) and Bayln (20) have continued to make their mark at Ceduna since taking out their U13/U14 league medals, with Bayln playing A Grade footy for the Blues, while Jonty also represents Norwood and Rostrevor College.

“They all enjoy their footy and will probably continue to play for as long as they can like I have,” Kelly said.

“Jonty wanted to try something different and has been playing with Norwood and at Rostrevor which is a great footy school.

“We’re really proud of all of them.”