Ex-Test player Alan ‘Froggy’ Thomson to be elevated to ‘Legend’ status in Fitzroy Doncaster Hall of Fame
Fitzroy Doncaster will induct a former Test player as its eighth Hall of Fame ‘Legend’ at a function next month.
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Many doubted Alan ‘Froggy’ Thomson would make it.
He arrived at Fitzroy 60 years ago as a teenager with a “crazy action”.
It was a windmill style developed as a kid but would deliver outstanding results, propelling him to the highest honour in the game.
Thomson, 74, would approach the wicket chest-on and bowl wrong-footed, leaving many purists attempting to modify his action.
“‘Won’t last … he’s no bloody good’. This was the attitude,” Thomson said.
Thomson continued to do it his way and made his First XI debut for Fitzroy Doncaster in 1964-65, taking 5-39 on debut against Richmond.
The Vermont resident played a key role in the Lions’ 1966-67 premiership, helping deliver the club its sixth flag with a haul of 6-72 in the first innings in the grand final victory against Essendon.
“We weren’t the favourites but we got up,” Thomson said.
Thomson and opening bowler Eddie Illingworth were a feared pair, combining for nearly 90 wickets during the premiership campaign.
“They were the probably best opening attack in District cricket at the time,” Fitzroy Doncaster Hall of Fame secretary Alan Melbourne said.
Thomson was the fastest to 100 wickets for Victoria, reaching the milestone in 19 games.
The former VFL umpire made his state debut in January 1969, claiming 6-114 in the first innings.
The following game was against the touring West Indies, taking match figures of 11-160.
“I was sitting with 17 wickets after two games and that made it a bit hard to drop me and that’s the way I got in,” Thomson said.
A Test call-up came for the 1970-71 Ashes series, featuring in four Tests.
He took 12 wickets for the series but was not seen at Test level again. Thomson also claimed the first wicket in ODI cricket in 1971, a short ball caught by Bill Lawry to dismiss English opener Geoff Boycott.
Thomson finished with 44 first class matches and 184 wickets, including best figures of 8-87.
He also captained Fitzroy Doncaster for three seasons between 1973-74 and 1975-76.
Thomson described his bowling action as “awkward”.
“I just ran up and skipped and I did that since I was eight or nine,” he said.
“By the time my front foot came down, the ball was almost in the batsman’s half.”
Melbourne said Thomson’s action made it difficult for him to receive higher honours.
“It probably meant he had to work harder than other people to gain his promotions through the grades because his action wasn’t a classical action,” he said.
“People didn’t think he would get as far as he did and therefore he had to get more wickets than other people.”
Across 113 First XI games, he took 322 wickets at 17.67 before finishing his career at Ringwood.
He also umpired six VFL games.
Thomson still follows the club and describes himself as a “very proud Fitzroy person”.
“I pay my membership every year and go along and support,” he said.
“They gave me the chance to play cricket. I was a 14-year-old with a crazy action and they gave me good mentors and went right through to the top of the tree.
“Whether I did alright at the top is another issue but I got there.
“I had very good captains in the Fifth XI, Third XI — all the way through … I was very lucky.”
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Thomson will be elevated to ‘Legend’ status in Fitzroy Doncaster’s Hall of Fame function at Latrobe Golf Club on February 1.
He will be the eighth player to receive the honour, joining Illingworth, Jack Potter, Arthur Liddicut, Ray Harvey, Neil Harvey, Gary Watts and Bill Jacobs in the distinguished group.
Six other past players will be named in the club’s Hall of Fame.
More information can be found at fitzroydoncastercc.com.au