MPNFL 2021: Former Collingwood and Carlton star Dale Thomas to play for Sorrento

Former Collingwood and Carlton star Dale Thomas will line-up with a Mornington Peninsula club this weekend after answering an SOS.

Dale Thomas of the Blues celebrates a goal. Pic: Michael Klein

He’s achieved almost everything in a brilliant football career but on Saturday Dale Thomas will experience something different.

The Collingwood premiership star will run around in a reserves game on the Mornington Peninsula after offering to help out an undermanned Sorrento.

He will play for the Sharks “magoos’’ at Dromana, starting at 12 noon.

And he will do it for free, happy just to have a kick with mates.

“He doesn’t want any money or anything,” Sorrento vice president and reserves player Anthony Ring said.

“He’s just coming for a kick and to help out because we’re short and he’s a mate of mine and a few others at the club.

“Good on him.”

Dale Thomas kicks a long torpedo goal early.

Sorrento has been hit hard by injuries early in the season and has struggled to find enough players for its reserves side in recent weeks.

The club put a blurb on Facebook recently saying, ‘we’re desperate for players’.

Thomas saw it and phoned Ring.

“He rang me and said, ‘I’ll play’, and I laughed,” Ring said.

“He goes, ‘mate, I’m serious, when you need me and when I can make it I’ll play’.”

“It’s fantastic that a bloke like him is going back to grassroots. There should be more blokes like him.

“He’s achieved everything in footy, premierships, 200 games. This is his way of giving back I guess.”

Thomas played for Ballan in the Central Highlands league last weekend, booting a goal in a loss.