North Melbourne forward Lindsay Thomas credits Brent Harvey with saving his career
NORTH Melbourne forward Lindsay Thomas credits champion Brent Harvey with saving his career.
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NORTH Melbourne forward Lindsay Thomas credits champion Brent Harvey with saving his career.
Thomas, 28, coming off a five-goal haul in the slide-arresting win over Collingwood, said he wouldn’t be playing if it wasn’t for Harvey’s influence on and off the field.
“I don’t think I (have ever) told him that, along with Daniel Wells, they’re the main two guys I can say if it wasn’t for them two, I don’t know where I’d be today,” he said ahead of Saturday’s clash with St Kilda.
“I could say ‘Boomer’ did save my career.
“He just made sure that he looked after me, made sure that I was all right mentally, just one of those guys that was just a phone call away.”
The bond was formed in 2007 when Thomas arrived from Port Lincoln, and grew stronger in 2011 as chronic goalkicking yips took hold.
“He’s been a great mentor for me over the past 10 years, on the footy field but also away from the footy club he’s a guy that would do anything for you,” Thomas said.
“He was one of those guys that would constantly be there (for me) but also spend that extra half an hour with me and show me different techniques and talking me through it.”
Thomas has absorbed the lessons to become North’s second-most prolific goalkicker (201) behind Drew Petrie (219) since that excruciating 21.36 season in 2012.
Often maligned for playing for frees, Thomas said it didn’t usually worry him what outsiders thought of his style.
“I would be lying saying it didn’t, because sometimes it does,” he said.
“But you can’t let that affect you, playing AFL footy you’re going to get criticised, it’s just the way it goes.”
Thomas left training early on Wednesday with tightness in his left quadriceps, but will run out with Harvey on Saturday.
“I won’t miss it for the world, you’ll have to kill me for me to miss this game,” he said.
“It’s something I’m going to remember for the rest of my life this game, running alongside the little champion.
“I said to him I’m going to give him his first goal, so I am definitely going to try and look for him.”
gilbert.gardiner@news.com.au
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