Len Thompson
{{short description|Australian rules footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}
{{for|the English footballer|Leonard Thompson (footballer)}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Len Thompson
| image =
| fullname = Leonard Ernest Thompson
| birth_date = {{birth date|1947|8|27|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{death date and age|2007|9|18|1947|8|27|df=y}}
| death_place =
| originalteam = North Reservoir
| height = 199 cm
| weight = 100 kg
| position = Ruck/centre half forward
| statsend = 1980
| years1 = 1965–1978
| club1 = {{AFL Col}}
| games_goals1 = 268 (217)
| years2 = 1979
| club2 = South Melbourne
| games_goals2 = {{0}}20 {{0}}(39)
| years3 = 1980
| club3 = Fitzroy
| games_goals3 = {{0}}13 {{0}}(19)
| games_goalstotal = 301 (275)
| sooyears1 =
| sooteam1 = Victoria
| soogames_goals1 = 15 (12)
| careerhighlights = *Brownlow Medal 1972
- 5× Copeland Trophy 1967, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1977
- Collingwood captain 1978
- All-Australian team 1972
- Collingwood Team of the Century (First ruck)
- Australian Football Hall of Fame, inducted 1998
}}
Leonard Ernest Thompson (27 August 1947 – 18 September 2007) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Collingwood Football Club, South Melbourne Football Club and Fitzroy Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Collingwood
Originally from North Reservoir, Thompson was first rejected by Essendon before being recruited by Collingwood. Thompson was one of the first 6 foot 6 ruckman to enter the VFL scene. He was a tall and gangly teenager when he played his first senior game.
A ruckman, Thompson won five best and fairest awards during his time with Collingwood as well as one Brownlow Medal in 1972.{{Cite web |url=http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/t-u-v.htm#Len%20Thompson%20(Collingwood,%20South%20Melbourne,%20Fitzroy |title=Profile on fullpointsfooty.net |access-date=6 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204043146/http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/t-u-v.htm#Len%20Thompson%20(Collingwood,%20South%20Melbourne,%20Fitzroy |archive-date=4 February 2012 |url-status=usurped }}
Players strike
In the lead-up to the 1970 VFL season, Thompson and Collingwood captain Des Tuddenham, vice captain and club captain respectively, refused to play for Collingwood, going on strike to protest at the perceived unfair salaries being paid to lure interstate players east.[http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22437906-11088,00.html Pies legend Len Thompson dies | Herald Sun] After a three-week stand-off, Tuddenham and Thompson returned to the club without getting what they had asked, but their actions had resulted in improved pay for other players.{{cite web|title=50 years on: The strike that changed the game|url=https://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/news/565297/50-years-on-the-strike-that-changed-the-game|date=19 February 2020|publisher=Collingwood Football Club|first=Michael|last=Roberts}} The Collingwood committee responded by stripping Tuddenham and Thompson of their official leadership roles, with Terry Waters being appointed captain. While this protest resulted in temporary souring the relationship between Thompson and the Collingwood football club, Thompson returned to a leadership position quickly, as vice-captain from 1973 to 1977 and captain in 1978.
South Melbourne and Fitzroy
Thompson left Collingwood in 1979 and played one season each with South Melbourne and Fitzroy.
Interstate football
Thompson represented Victoria 15 times during his career. He was selected as an All-Australian at the 1972 Perth Carnival.
After playing retirement
Thompson served on the Collingwood board in 1982 and 1983.
In 1989, Thompson coached Preston in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) for one season.
In 1996, Thompson was selected as the ruckman in Collingwood's Team of the Century.
In 1999, Thompson sold his Brownlow Medal for $75,000.
On 18 September 2007, Thompson died at the home of his former partner after a heart attack. He was survived by six children – Kari-Anne, Nicolas, Sam, Lachlan, Laura and Emily – and former partners Julie, Susi and Bronwyn. Thompson's funeral took place at Melbourne's St Paul's Cathedral on 25 September 2007.
References
{{Reflist}}
References
- Thompson L. & Nicholson, R., The Other Side of the Medal: Memoirs of Life and Football, Ironbark Press, (Chippendale), 1999.
External links
- {{AFL Tables}}
- {{AustralianFootball}}
- [https://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/players/len-thompson/ Profile] at Collingwood Forever
{{Collingwood Football Club captains}}
{{AFL Brownlow Medallists}}
{{Collingwood Team of The Century}}
{{Copeland Trophy}}
{{1972 All-Australian team}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thompson, Len}}
Category:Collingwood Football Club players
Category:Copeland Trophy winners
Category:Brownlow Medal winners
Category:All-Australians (1953–1988)
Category:Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees
Category:Fitzroy Football Club players