Scott Thompson says he has let go of emotional connection to the Crows in his new role at Port

SCOTT Thompson says he has shed his emotional connection to former club Adelaide since retiring as a player and joining Port Adelaide as a coach this season.

Scott Thompson working with Port Adelaide’s SANFL side this season. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe.

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SCOTT Thompson says he has shed his emotional connection to former club Adelaide since retiring as a player and joining Port Adelaide as a coach this season.

The 35-year-old is experiencing his first Showdown as a Power person on Saturday after playing in 25 as a Crow but doesn’t feel torn.

“It’s nice to be inside the four walls of another footy club,” Thompson said.

“Playing versus coaching I look at them in a completely different capacity, if someone goes to play at another club there are feelings of coming up against your old side.

Thompson celebrates a Showdown goal against Port Adelaide. Picture: Sarah Reed.

“But in a coaching capacity, especially at development level like myself, I certainly haven’t felt that at all.

“And for my own development I’ve made a really wise decision and am really enjoying my time.

“It is another opponent and given that I’m a development coach I don’t sit in the box on match day anyway.

“There is always a bit of hype surrounding the game and it’s a sellout this week which is fantastic, we want our supporters to fill the stadium and cheer us home.”

Thompson says returning to Port Adelaide, where he was drafted from in 2000, has been “a good fit”. Picture Sarah Reed

Thompson had a 15-10 win/loss record in Showdowns and in 2015 won the Phillip Walsh Medal as best-on-ground in the emotional game honouring the late Crows coach.

“Every game throws up different challenges and more importantly we won the game, but that was a nice reward at the end of it,” he said.

While to some, Thompson has joined the enemy this season, to others he has come home given he was drafted to Melbourne from the Port Magpies in 2000.

“There are a lot of mixed opinions on that, I never had any connection with Port Power as such but being a Maggies boy originally and the fact that I am tied up with them on weekends a lot of people say ‘welcome home’,” he said.

“So much has changed since then, obviously I came through their development grades and played a handful of reserves games in 2000, but the only league game was in Round 1, 2005, under Jack Cahill (when Crows players were separated among the other SANFL clubs).

“But people whether they’re mates who are one-eyed Crows supporters will say to me ‘what are you thinking going there?’

“As I’ve said before coaching is completely different to playing and it’s a great fit for me.”

The hard-nosed midfielder who played 308 AFL games from 2001 to 2017, is now midfield development coach at Port Adelaide where he works closely with Michael Voss to guide the young players, particularly those at SANFL level.

He always thought he would stay involved in the game when he finished playing and is even more certain of his decision now.

“You’re always weighing up what your options are when you exit the system, and I was lucky enough to have an extended lifespan as a player so it gave me a fair bit of time to think about my decision post playing days,” he said.

Thompson received the Phillip Walsh Medal in 2015. Picture: Calum Robertson.

“Given my role as development coach, you get real joy and a real kick out of seeing younger guys improve aspects of their game when they work on it at training and it transfers into playing.”

Thompson will be at Adelaide Oval from 1.10pm on Saturday as midfield coach under Marty Mattner for the SANFL side which is playing Western Australia in the state game.

He hasn’t ruled out considering a coaching job in the SANFL in the future but is not in a rush.

“Who knows what the future holds going forward, at this point in time now I’m really happy with where I’m at, I’m learning a lot and am surrounded by people with a fair bit of experience and knowledge which is going to be helpful for me going forward as well,” Thompson said.

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