Dale Thomas has not produced football worthy of his big contract at Carlton, Mark Robinson writes

DALE Thomas has not produced football worthy of his big contract at Carlton and once again, the question is being asked again: Is he in their best 22?

DALE THOMAS’ career has long gone past Carlton fans despairing about Mick Malthouse getting him to the club.

The Thomas story is officially a sad one.

Sad because Thursday night was only one game, and the first game of the 2017 season, yet there was a sense of dread about Thomas’ performance and his future.

After a long, restful summer and a reportedly upbeat pre-season, we might’ve expected — or hoped — for more impact, more movement and more speed.

MATCH REPORT: BLUES SMASHED BY TIGERS

BANNER BLUNDER? BLUES POKE FUN AT DUSTY, THEN HE’S BEST ON GROUND

BAD BLUES: PIES GREAT SLAMS CARLTON ‘DOWNHILL SKIERS’

It ain’t going to happen.

Thomas’ effort is not questioned, but the body isn’t as willing as the mind.

The explosion and elasticity of the one-time poster boy for gut-running, youthful exuberance and tipped hair is 30 in June and in the final year of a calamitous four-year deal worth almost $3 million.

And it started poorly on Thursday night.

Dale Thomas had a poor game against Richmond. Picture: Getty

Poorly might be too strong because he might’ve had a role designed by Brendon Bolton.

But on the surface, he looked like a veteran scratching around in a development team, a bits-part player floating through midfield and half-forward.

Twelve months ago, people questioned whether Thomas was in Carlton’s best 22 and he ended up playing 18 games for the Blues.

After Thursday night, the same question is being asked, but this time there’s the knowledge that Thomas has a trigger clause to activate a fifth year at the Blues.

It is being speculated that it’s 15 games, maybe 17 games, and that he could play on with a heavily reduced financial package.

The sadness accompanying all of this is the lashing of Thomas by Carlton fans and segments of media.

To be frank, the overwhelming opinion is under no circumstances could Carlton allow Thomas trigger that clause.

That’s how far Thomas’ star has fallen.

His credits are gone and as Chopper would say, he’s just another bare bum in the showers.

You suspect the lingering Malthouse angst has caught Thomas in its net, but at the same time, there’s been very little substance to the Thomas career at Carlton.

He arrived with a bung ankle and a reputation he liked to party — well, he was a Rat Packer — then was a shadow in his first season, wrecked a shoulder at the start of his next season, had a couple of blinders last year and then kicked off this year with yet another so-so performance.

It’s a cruel world, but when it’s all over, one question remains: Was Thomas’ deal to Carlton the worst deal in football history in terms of dollars spent?

It’s been argued it wasn’t Thomas’ fault the Blues offered him $3 million and that’s true.

Dale Thomas by all reports had a good pre-season but his form on Thursday night was worrying. Picture: George Salpigtidis

But football demands fair compensation on so many levels and when you take the cash, there is an expectation you’ll give something reasonable in return.

It hasn’t happened with Thomas for all sorts of reasons.

It was a sizeable contract, too. As it was for the coach. That one year delivered Thomas and Malthouse from Collingwood and neither of them was a success and Blues fans won’t quickly forget.

The good news is if Thomas strikes his trigger he would’ve likely played a solid season.

But he has to get to that point.

He started with verve against the Tigers on Thursday night, but soon became a Lego piece in whole bag of Lego pieces, a sameness amid the madness.

He had 17 possessions, one goal from the goal square and a few cameos.

Dale Thomas was a lively player with Collingwood and a star in 2010 and 2011.

At Carlton it has been a much different story. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

At one stage of his career he was a highlight reel, a game-breaker, just as Dusty Martin was the highlight reel on Thursday night.

We know those days are gone. Now you wonder how many days are left.

Near the end of the match on Thursday, Thomas had a chance to tackle Richmond’s Reece Conca, but instead chose to bump. Conca neither flinched or went down and at that moment, Thomas looked like a man playing with frustration and not freedom.

It will be interesting to see what happens when this season is over.

Thomas might skedaddle from footy and want a new life away from the criticisms and the questioning.

Or he might want to give more to Carlton in a playing/development role, on much less kanga, purely to help what will be a long rebuild.

Anyway, the next month looms huge for Daisy, let alone what happens next year.