Andrew Thompson (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Charles Thompson (born 21 October 1972) is a retired Australian rules football
er for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League
.
Thompson was recruited in the 1996
AFL Draft
at pick no 62 and was picked up from the VAFA
club Old Melburnians. At the time of his recruitment Thompson was 24 years of age, relatively old for an AFL footballer to begin his career. Thompson later said that being recruited at a late age allowed him to become more travelled and worldly than other footballers who begin their careers at 17 or 18 years of age.
Thompson quickly established himself in the St Kilda lineup in 1997, missing only two games (in Rounds 2 and 3) and playing every game from Round 4 onwards, including St Kilda's loss in the Grand Final
.
Thompson played in 20 of 22 matches in the 1997 AFL Premiership Season home and away rounds in which St Kilda Football Club qualified in first position for the 1997 AFL Finals Series, winning the club’s 2nd Minor Premiership and 1st McClelland Trophy
.
Thompson was noted for his hard work ethic and consistency and this led to him winning the 1999 Channel 7 Player of the Year Award. His outstanding and consistent form also earned him a Trevor Barker Award
for St Kilda's Best and Fairest player in 2000. Despite a dismal year for the Saints, when they finished last, Thompson continued toiling and was a shining light in an otherwise disappointing side.
Thompson played in St Kilda’s 2004 Wizard Home Loans Cup
winning side – St Kilda's second AFL Cup win.
Thompson signed a one-year contract with the Saints for the 2006 season and was part of a veteran group with Justin Peckett
and Stephen Powell
who signed on for one last shot at a premiership
. He made a solid contribution for the season, and new coach Ross Lyon
signed 'Thommo' up for one last time at the beginning of the 2007 year.
In his last season, Thompson battled injury and fitness issues, but managed 10 matches for the Saints. He farwelled the football world on the 1st of September, playing his final game on the MCG against Richmond. Fellow Saint Fraser Gehrig
also announced his retirement, and both players were chaired off the ground.
Thompson has worked part-time in the finance and business world since 2004. Three weeks after announcing his retirement, he joined the Burke-Westaway ticket that was challenging St Kilda's incumbent board http://www.stkildafootyfirst.com/board.html.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
.
Thompson was recruited in the 1996
1996 AFL Draft
The 1996 AFL Draft was held at the conclusion of the 1996 Australian Football League season.The AFL Draft is the annual draft of new unsigned players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.Clubs receive picks based...
AFL Draft
AFL Draft
The AFL Draft is the annual draft of new unsigned players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.-History:...
at pick no 62 and was picked up from the VAFA
Victorian Amateur Football Association
The Victorian Amateur Football Association is an Australian rules football league in Victoria, Australia consisting purely of amateur players. Unlike the Victorian Football League and the VFL/AFL, the VAFA has always been strictly a purely amateur league and has affiliations with both AFL Victoria...
club Old Melburnians. At the time of his recruitment Thompson was 24 years of age, relatively old for an AFL footballer to begin his career. Thompson later said that being recruited at a late age allowed him to become more travelled and worldly than other footballers who begin their careers at 17 or 18 years of age.
Thompson quickly established himself in the St Kilda lineup in 1997, missing only two games (in Rounds 2 and 3) and playing every game from Round 4 onwards, including St Kilda's loss in the Grand Final
AFL Grand Final
The AFL Grand Final is an annual Australian rules football match, traditionally held on the final Saturday in September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia to determine the Australian Football League premiership champions for that year...
.
Thompson played in 20 of 22 matches in the 1997 AFL Premiership Season home and away rounds in which St Kilda Football Club qualified in first position for the 1997 AFL Finals Series, winning the club’s 2nd Minor Premiership and 1st McClelland Trophy
1997 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1997.The Port Adelaide Power joined the competition.The Brisbane Lions also joined the competition after the merger of the and ....
.
Thompson was noted for his hard work ethic and consistency and this led to him winning the 1999 Channel 7 Player of the Year Award. His outstanding and consistent form also earned him a Trevor Barker Award
Trevor Barker Award
The Trevor Barker Award is an Australian rules football award for the player voted the St Kilda Football Club Club Champion during the home and away season in the Australian Football League by a voting panel....
for St Kilda's Best and Fairest player in 2000. Despite a dismal year for the Saints, when they finished last, Thompson continued toiling and was a shining light in an otherwise disappointing side.
Thompson played in St Kilda’s 2004 Wizard Home Loans Cup
2004 Wizard Home Loans Cup
The 2004 Wizard Home Loans Cup was the Australian Football League competition played in its entirety before the Australian Football League's 2004 Premiership Season began...
winning side – St Kilda's second AFL Cup win.
Thompson signed a one-year contract with the Saints for the 2006 season and was part of a veteran group with Justin Peckett
Justin Peckett
Justin "Frankie" Peckett is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League .Picked up by the Saints as an impressive 16-year-old, in 1990 Peckett won the St Kilda under 19's best and fairest and remained on the list for the 1991 season, before he was delisted at the end of the...
and Stephen Powell
Stephen Powell
Stephen Powell was an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League .A journeyman in the AFL, Powell made his debut with the Western Bulldogs as a 20-year-old in 1997. He became known as a solid player whose hardness at the ball was very valuable, continuing this role as the...
who signed on for one last shot at a premiership
AFL Grand Final
The AFL Grand Final is an annual Australian rules football match, traditionally held on the final Saturday in September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia to determine the Australian Football League premiership champions for that year...
. He made a solid contribution for the season, and new coach Ross Lyon
Ross Lyon
Ross Lyon is a former Australian rules football player for Fitzroy and the Brisbane Bears. He is the current senior coach of the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League .-Playing career:...
signed 'Thommo' up for one last time at the beginning of the 2007 year.
In his last season, Thompson battled injury and fitness issues, but managed 10 matches for the Saints. He farwelled the football world on the 1st of September, playing his final game on the MCG against Richmond. Fellow Saint Fraser Gehrig
Fraser Gehrig
Fraser Gehrig is a retired Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League who played for the St Kilda Football Club and the West Coast Eagles...
also announced his retirement, and both players were chaired off the ground.
Thompson has worked part-time in the finance and business world since 2004. Three weeks after announcing his retirement, he joined the Burke-Westaway ticket that was challenging St Kilda's incumbent board http://www.stkildafootyfirst.com/board.html.