Rory Thompson Explained

Rory Thompson
Fullname:Rory Thompson
Birth Date:1991 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Originalteam:Southport (QAFL)
Draftpick:Zone Selection, 2009,
Height:200 cm
Weight:91 kg
Position:Defender
Years1:2011–2022
Games Goals1:106 (7)
Careerhighlights:

2013

Rory Thompson (born 12 March 1991) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Gold Coast Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was one of the club's Zone Selections, and played in the Gold Coast's first season, in 2011.

Junior football

Thompson is the son of Southport Sharks hall-of-famer and dual premiership player Brett Thompson.[1] He originally played rugby league for the Parkwood Sharks before switching to his father's old club to begin junior football. Thompson attended Helensvale State High School during his junior football and upon graduation was signed by the Gold Coast Football Club to compete in the TAC Cup in 2009. Following Thompson's announcement of signing with the Gold Coast, it was revealed the Brisbane Lions had a strong interest in the local junior and intended to draft him at the 2008 AFL draft had he elected.[2]

AFL career

Thompson was one of only four players from the Gold Coast region drafted into the inaugural Gold Coast Suns squad, the others being Marc Lock, Jack Stanlake and Joel Wilkinson.

Thompson made his AFL debut in Round 16 of the 2011 AFL season in a 70-point loss to the Sydney Swans at home.[3] [4]

After a breakout 2013 season, Thompson was selected at full-back in the AFL Players' inaugural 22under22 team.[5]

In 2014, Thompson kept Sydney Swans full-forward Kurt Tippett goal-less in the Suns' 35-point loss in their round 12 match.[6]

In November 2022, Thompson retired as the longest-serving player of the Gold Coast Suns, due to knee injuries.[7]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of round 3, 2022[8] |-|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2011|style="text-align:center;"|| 16 || 8 || 2 || 2 || 48 || 40 || 88 || 39 || 22 || 0.3 || 0.3 || 6.0 || 5.0 || 11.0 || 4.9 || 2.8 || 0|-! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2012|style="text-align:center;"|| 16 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 32 || 14 || 46 || 18 || 12 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 6.4 || 2.8 || 9.2 || 3.6 || 2.4 || 0|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2013|style="text-align:center;"|| 16 || 21 || 5 || 3 || 157 || 89 || 246 || 105 || 39 || 0.2 || 0.1 || 7.5 || 4.2 || 11.7 || 5.0 || 1.9 || 2|-! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2014|style="text-align:center;"|| 16 || 19 || 0 || 0 || 91 || 73 || 164 || 58 || 49 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 4.8 || 3.8 || 8.6 || 3.1 || 2.6 || 0|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2015|style="text-align:center;"|| 16 || 12 || 0 || 0 || 54 || 37 || 91 || 38 || 15 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 4.5 || 3.1 || 7.6 || 3.2 || 1.3 || 0|-! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2016|style="text-align:center;"|| 16 || 14 || 0 || 2 || 75 || 65 || 140 || 68 || 27 || 0.0 || 0.1 || 5.4 || 4.6 || 10.0 || 4.9 || 1.9 || 0|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2017|style="text-align:center;"|| 16 || 7 || 0 || 0 || 41 || 31 || 72 || 29 || 20 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 5.9 || 4.4 || 10.3 || 4.1 || 2.9 || 0|-! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2018|style="text-align:center;"|| 16 || 17 || 0 || 1 || 84 || 55 || 139 || 42 || 26 || 0.0 || 0.1 || 4.9 || 3.2 || 8.2 || 2.5 || 1.5 || 0|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2019|style="text-align:center;"|| 16 || 0 || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || –|-! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2020|style="text-align:center;"|| 16 || 0 || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || –|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2021|style="text-align:center;"|| 16 || 0 || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || –|-! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2022|style="text-align:center;"|| 16 || 0 || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || –|-|- class="sortbottom"! colspan=3| Career! 103! 7! 8! 582! 404! 986! 397! 210! 0.1! 0.1! 5.7! 3.9! 9.6! 3.9! 2.0! 2|}

Notes

Notes and References

  1. News: Dew. Jake. It's hunting time for ex-Shark Rory. goldcoast.com.au. 2 March 2011.
  2. News: Wilson. Terry. GC17 beat Lions to the punch over Thompson. goldcoast.com.au. 15 November 2008.
  3. http://www.neafl.com.au/index.php?id=16&tx_ttnews%5Byear%5D=2011&tx_ttnews%5Bmonth%5D=07&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=361&cHash=66646bb13ee9ba58b7fdba4d48ec67c2 Rory Thompson set for Suns AFL debut
  4. http://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/news/2011-07-09/ablett-hurt-in-swans-romp Ablett hurt in Swans romp
  5. Web site: McInerney. Sam. 22under22 Team Announced. AFL Players' Association. 18 September 2013.
  6. http://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/news/2014-06-09/thompson-roars-back-to-life Thompson roars back to life
  7. https://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/news/1246056/rory-thompson-announces-retirement
  8. Web site: Rory Thompson. AFL Tables. 5 April 2022.