Scott Thompson

Biography

AFC Debut Number: 143             AFC Debut Game:  Round 2 v Collingwood, 2005

AFC Career Guernsey Number: 5

Over the course of a 13-season career with Adelaide, Scott Thompson earned a reputation as one of the competition’s toughest midfielders and was often among the leaders at the Brownlow Medal count.

From Adelaide, he was drafted by Melbourne with pick No. 16 at the 2000 National Draft and he quickly earned their Best First Year Player award in 2001. After four seasons with the Demons he asked for a trade home, in exchange for pick No. 12 from the Crows. It proved to be one of the best moves by the Club as Thompson quickly became a reliable star.

Throughout his 13 seasons he  played fewer than 21 games only twice – 2014 and 2017 – and in 2014 he still made 19 appearances. Arguably his best years were 2011 and 2012 when he averaged around 30 disposals and won back-to-back Malcolm Blight Medals, with his 2012 campaign earning an equal-fourth finish in the Brownlow Medal with 25 votes.

Thompson also represented Australia in the 2008 International Rules Series, received a total of 155 Brownlow votes, and joined the 300 club in 2016. On his retirement in 2017 he was the Club record holder in disposals, tackles, clearances and contested possessions at the time. Thompson retired after taking out Adelaide’s State League Club Champion award.

In 2021 he was selected as half forward in Adelaide’s “Best 22 of 30 Years”.

Thompson was inducted into the SA Football Hall of Fame in 2024.