Dale Thomas says he has more football left in him after charity night disaster then AFL recall

Dale Thomas went to Carlton’s interim coach David Teague after serving his one-match ban and was given a second chance. Now the Blues veteran is determined to take advantage.

AFL Round 12. 08/06/2019. Carlton v Brisbane Lions at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne. Dale Thomas of the Blues after todays win. Pic: Michael Klein

Dale Thomas says he has only himself to blame for his disastrous charity night incident after pleading his case for selection to David Teague the morning after he was made interim coach.

Thomas will play his 250th AFL game on Saturday night against the Western Bulldogs after a turbulent career of premiership highs and dramatic lows.

But he warned despite turning 32 in a fortnight he had plenty of good football left in him, clearly keen to play on until 2020.

Thomas drunk as many as six glasses of wine on a Friday night and was dropped for Brendon Bolton’s last game, with some commentators urging the club mark his papers.

He said after Carlton’s win over Brisbane he still had the fire in the belly despite his own goal at that charity night.

Dale Thomas celebrates his team’s win over Brisbane. Pic: Michael Klein

“I went and saw Teaguey first thing Tuesday. My situation wasn’t ideal but there was still a bit of noise about it and external factors and I wasn’t sure what his take was on it and how it might have affected him. I said ‘what are your thoughts?’” he said.

“He said, ‘No, it’s a club thing, the boys gave you a week ban. From my point of view you served that’.

“I went back into the twos and played a pretty handy game and I am bloody thankful he picked me. I think I have a lot to add to this team and a lot of good football ahead of me.”

Teague said on Sunday he wanted every player — including Thomas — to start with a clean slate during his stint as interim coach.

“It was a bit of a debate, even in my own head,” Teague said on Channel 9.

“Early in the week I wasn’t sure. But my first message to all the players was a clean slate.

“Once it got to match committee I felt I would be hypocritical if I didn’t give him a clean slate.

“The leadership group gave him a week, he filled that, he played really well.

“The decision in the end became easy.”

Thomas said he was thrilled to hit 250 games, admitting the “boy from Drouin” would have been happy with 50 games after hitting Collingwood as a wide-eyed teenager.

Thomas was one of Collingwood’s best players across its two 2010 Grand Final contests but after leaving for Carlton with ankle injuries became one of footy’s most maligned players.

Having voided the last year of a lucrative contract, he has played on under a series of one-year deals and could be in line for another if he can keep up his solid form in the Blues back six.

Thomas responded after his off-field indiscretion. Pic: Michael Klein

“On a personal level it’s nice to put these last couple of weeks behind me,” he told K Rock.

“Going back and having the pressure last week of performing at VFL level and being there was a fair stuff up and then today wanting things to go well after a difficult week.

“I have no one really to blame for some of it which is annoying but onwards and upwards.

“The last few weeks I have questioned (the love of the game) but once you get out there I love it.

“The combative nature and getting out there and when you play like we did today there are not many better feelings in the world.”

Originally published as Dale Thomas says he has more football left in him after charity night disaster then AFL recall