Veteran Crows midfielder Scott Thompson starts his coaching apprenticeship in swansong AFL season at Adelaide

SCOTT Thompson’s swansong as an AFL player is confirmed — as is his start of a coaching apprenticeship at the Adelaide Football Club.

Scott Thompson is chaired off the field after playing his 300th game by Taylor Walker and Rory Sloane. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

SCOTT Thompson’s swansong as an AFL player is confirmed — as is his start of a coaching apprenticeship at the Adelaide Football Club.

Thompson has settled — after meeting Crows senior coach Don Pyke on Monday — his adjustment from first-choice midfielder to role player at Adelaide. And the 32-year-old Crows stalwart next season will take his first steps towards establishing his AFL coaching resume.

Adelaide and Thompson settled on a new one-year deal today.

“It will be a little different for ‘Thommo’ — in some capacity he will be playing and the role will have coaching to it as well,” Thompson’s manager Michael Doughty said.

“He won’t be guaranteed his spot in the 22 — and ‘Thommo’ is aware other players have to be given opportunities. But Scott will be there to drive (playing and training) standards.

“And he also will move on to the next stage — coaching.”

Thompson, who this year played his 300th AFL game, will be in his 17th AFL season next year in a career that began at Melbourne.

Adelaide also announced that it is retaining young midfielder Harrison Wigg for another season.

The 19-year-old came close to making his AFL debut this season and capped off 2016 finishing third in Adelaide’s SANFL club champion vote.

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