Eleven games that helped forge Scott Thompson’s status as an AFL star and Adelaide Crows legend
WITH retiring Adelaide star Scott Thompson now looking unlikely to play an on-field role in the Crows’ finals campaign, we look back on some of the highlights from his glittering career.
- Thompson to retire at season’s end
- Thompson returns for Bulldogs battle
- Still big role for Thompson in premiership push
- Gallery: Scott Thompson’s AFL journey
IT could be a case of so close, but so far for Adelaide Crows legend Scott Thompson.
Save for a score of Crows being struck down by malaria following their vacation to the Gold Coast this week, the 34-year-old’s dreams of playing in a premiership for his beloved club appear over.
The two-time Crows club champion and 2012 All-Australian announced in July he would be hanging up his boots at the end of the season.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE FOOTBALL MEMORY OF THOMMO? TELL US BELOW
The veteran midfielder, who has played 16 finals — the most of any current Crow — has only been able to add the one match to his 308-game tally this season, a Round 16 game against the Western Bulldogs where he laboured in the wet at Adelaide Oval.
Despite solid form in the SANFL, Thompson has been overlooked for younger personnel this year as the Crows put their faith in their “generation next” midfield.
He made one last-ditch tilt for an AFL recall with 28 disposals, 11 tackles and two goals in the Crows’ reserves final-round loss to the Eagles.
But the selection of Paul Seedsman to replace Rory Sloane as he recovered from appendix surgery last week suggests Thompson’s dream of playing in a Crows premiership are over.
The Port Magpies product arrived at the Crows from Melbourne at the end of 2004 after playing 39 injury-riddled games for the Demons who picked him up at No 16 in the 2000 AFL draft.
He will depart the club as its leading all-time possession-getter (6752), clearance winner (1338) and tackler (1313).
We look back on some of his best games.
Round 5, 2004
In his fourth season at the Dees, Thompson finally got a chance to show off his serious potential. He led the possession count for Melbourne in a victory against Sydney, finishing with 14 kicks, nine handballs, nine marks and contributing two goals to the winning scoreline. It would result in the first of his 155 career Brownlow votes.
Round 11, 2005
Thompson played all but the first game in his first season with the Crows, a campaign that ended in heartbreaking defeat to the West Coast Eagles in a preliminary final. He showed his true value to his new side rotating between the midfield and forward when he booted three goals, took seven marks and collected 26 possessions as Adelaide blasted Essendon off Football Park in Round 11.
Round 7, 2007
In a season where the umpires started to take notice, Thompson attracted three Brownlow votes for the first time in his career in a comfortable win against Brisbane at the Gabba. His 22-disposal and three-goal effort was the first of four three-vote hauls for 2007. Queensland would continue to be a happy hunting ground for Thompson throughout the rest of his career. He polled votes in every season he ventured to the Sunshine State for thereon until last year.
Round 11, 2008
Thommo switched between the midfield and forward and bamboozled Richmond, booting a career-best six goals from his 23 disposals — 12 contested — in front of his home crowd. Not surprisingly he streaked away with the three votes on Brownlow night.
Round 22, 2011
Thompson has always been prolific, but on this afternoon it was as if he brought his own Sherrin. He recorded an incredible club-record 51 disposals, including 21 kicks and 30 handpasses, as he single-handedly downed the Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium. The haul remains just two shy of the highest amount of possessions in the AFL era, a record owned by one of his opponents that day — Gary Ablett.
Round 2, 2012
On the occasion of his 200th game, Thompson showed his elite-level class with 34 workmanlike possessions in a best-on-ground performance against the Western Bulldogs at AAMI Stadium.
Preliminary Final, 2012
Thompson did his utmost to will Adelaide over the line in a heart-stopper against Hawthorn, racking up 14 kicks and 17 handballs in a courageous effort. But the Crows ultimately fell an agonising five points short to the eventual premier. The individual performance capped an impressive season for Thompson, who finished third in the Brownlow Medal, won All-Australian honours and donned his second gold jacket as Crows club champion.
Round 22, 2013
Against his former club Melbourne, Thommo turned on a masterclass at AAMI Stadium. He racked up 33 disposals (17 kicks and 16 handballs), laid seven tackles and a notched up a career-best SuperCoach score of 176 on his way to another three Brownlow votes.
Round 14, 2014
Thompson was at his typical bullocking best as he tallied 41 possessions, including 15 contested, in what was the second-highest haul of his career. He also had a game-high 10 clearances and laid seven tackles. And while Adelaide went down by nine points to Essendon, he still managed to poll three Brownlow votes, setting the tone for another standout Showdown performance as Adelaide knocked Port from top spot the week after.
Round 16, 2015
On the emotional occasion that was Showdown 39 — the first in the aftermath of former coach Phil Walsh’s death — Thompson had 36 possessions (including an amazing near career-best 22 contested), 13 clearances, kicked a goal and laid eight tackles. He deservedly went home with the one-off Phillip Walsh Medal as best man on the ground in the three-point win over Port Adelaide.
Round 17, 2016
While maybe not his best individual game (he still managed 22 touches and laid nine tackles), the Crows ensured Thompson celebrated his 300th game in style with a strong win against Collingwood in front of 50,012 fans at Adelaide Oval.