Woodville-West Torrens premiership stars Luke Thompson and Matthew Goldsworthy to hang up boots after Eagles finals campaign

Both have signalled their imminent retirements but when that is depends on the result of Sunday’s elimination final.

The blue, gold and green curtain is about to come down on two of the SANFL’s modern day greats.

Woodville-West Torrens premiership stars and club favourites Luke Thompson and Matthew Goldsworthy have decided to hang up the boots and could play their final SANFL games in Sunday’s elimination final against Glenelg at Adelaide Oval.

The 33-year-olds, who will retire at the end of the fifth-placed Eagles finals campaign, have played more than 500 SANFL games between them and will be fondly remembered as “two of our most distinguished players’’, according to Eagles chief executive David Couzner.

“The contributions of Luke and Matthew to our club are immeasurable,’’ Couzner said.

Key defender Thompson is one of only four men to have played in three Eagles premiership teams (2011, 2020 and 2021), along with current ruckman Jarrad Redden and the retired Patrick Giuffreda and Jimmy Toumpas.

He is hoping to go out with a bang and make it four flags this year.

Goldsworthy, dubbed the “Curramulka Kid’’ after his recruitment from the small Yorke Peninsula town, has won two premierships (2011 and 2020) after missing the 2021 grand final triumph against the Tigers with a hamstring injury.

The classy, 178cm, left-footed utility, who started with the Eagles as a small forward before becoming a playmaking defender and then a midfielder, has played 259 games and kicked 211 goals in 17 seasons from 2008-24.

Woodville-West Torrens greats Luke Thompson (left) and Matthew Goldsworthy at Woodville Oval this week. Picture: Ben Clark

Thompson, 193cm, has played 255 games and kicked 19 goals in 15 seasons from 2010-24.

Born in Wangaratta, Victoria, he moved to South Australia after being selected by Adelaide at the 2010 AFL rookie draft.

Making the Eagles his SANFL home after being picked at the now defunct SANFL mini-draft as an interstate Crows selection, Thompson played 20 AFL games for the Crows from 2011-14 before being delisted.

He considered returning home after his delisting but became so entrenched at the Eagles that he stayed in Adelaide and became one of the club’s greatest players and only dual premiership skipper.

Thompson was joint captain with Giuffreda from 2015-19 and sole captain from 2020-22 before handing the reins to current state skipper Joseph Sinor.

The cornerstone of the Eagles defence for more than a decade, he is their longest-serving captain.

“The Eagles became my second home, like a big family to me, they are what kept me in Adelaide,’’ Thompson said as he trained in preparation for possibly his last SANFL game.

“I would probably have headed back to Victoria after my Crows days were over if not for them.

“Even when I was at the Crows there were some tough times and struggles but the Eagles were so good to me and helped me get through.

Luke Thompson (second from left) holds the 2021 SANFL premiership cup aloft with fellow triple Eagles premiership players, from left, Patrick Giuffreda, Jimmy Toumpas and Jarrad Redden. Picture: Sarah Reed

“To help them win three premierships was great but the other thing I’ll cherish is the people I have met along the way.

“As much as anything, I’ve always wanted to be remembered as a good person who had time for everyone and I think I’ve developed those types of relationships at the Eagles.’’

Thompson represented SA three times and made The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year on four occasions (2015-18).

He said he could physically play on but always wanted to leave the state league competition while he was “still playing at a high standard and not clawing my way to the line’’.

“I wanted to leave this standard of footy while I still had a bit left in the tank,’’ Thompson said, adding work commitments (as business manager with Wise Employment) and a young family (children aged 5 and 16 months) contributed to his decision to walk away from a competition he loves.

Thompson and Goldsworthy will fall just short of breaking the Woodville-West Torrens games record of 266, held by dual premiership midfielder Justin Cicolella, whose career spanned from 1998 to 2012.

The Eagles were formed in 1990 through the amalgamation of the West Torrens and Woodville football clubs.

Goldsworthy, who will continue to work as the Eagles senior football manager after hanging up the boots, said he had extracted everything he could from his battered body.

Luke Thompson in action against Norwood in Round 8 this season. Picture: David Mariuz/SANFL

Matthew Goldsworthy kicks under pressure against West Adelaide. Picture Dean Martin

“I’ve probably ummed and ahhed a fair bit over the past few years and when ‘Sauce’ (coach Sam Jacobs) came along this year I was excited by the challenge of helping the next group of players coming through and trying to help the club get back to playing finals, which we’ve managed to do after missing out in the previous two years,’’ he said.

“Thankfully my body’s got through okay and now we wait to see what happens with our team during the finals.’’

Goldsworthy, who has represented SA twice, said while he was devastated to miss out on the 2021 premiership after being injured in the second semi-final, he was “super grateful’’ to have won two flags – 10 years apart.

“We had that period (between 2012 and 2018) when we won a lot of games but didn’t win a premiership, so to get that flag in 2020 was very special,’’ he said.

The pair have not only been long-term teammates but great mates off the field, so it is fitting that they are retiring together.

“When we walk off the field together for the last time it will be pretty special,’’ Thompson said.

2021 premiership forward Troy Menzel, 29, who has spent the past four years at the Eagles after previously playing for Central District, Carlton and Adelaide, will also retire at the end of the season after being in and out of the league side this year.