Len Thompson
Encyclopedia
Len Thompson was an Australian rules football
er, who played for most of his career at Collingwood
.
. Combining great physical size (200 cm, 95.5 kg) with tremendous athleticism, he provided Collingwood
with a formidable around the ground presence.
Thompson played a total of 272 VFL games and scored 217 goals for Collingwood between 1965 and 1978, winning the club's best and fairest award a record 5 times, as well as the 1972 Brownlow Medal
.
, 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. 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 1973-7 and captain 1978.
(20 games and 39 goals in 1979) and Fitzroy
(13 games, 19 goals, 1980). However, in all of his sixteen season, 305-game VFL career with three senior clubs, he failed to play in a premiership team, despite appearing in four grand finals: the 1966 Grand Final (which Collingwood lost by one point), the 1970 Grand Final (which, despite being 44 points in front at half-time, Collingwood lost 10 by points), and the 1977 First Grand Final (which was a drawn match), and the 1977 Grand Final Replay (which Collingwood lost by 27 points) .
. He served on the Collingwood board in 1982 and 1983. When Collingwood selected its official 'Team of the Twentieth Century' Len Thompson was selected as the first ruck.
at 10.30am on Thursday 25 September 2007. Conducted by The Dean, The Very Reverend David Richardson, it was attended by more than 1,200 mourners, led by his six children and including notable members of the AFL fraternity, friends and fans.
Sons Nicolas, Sam and Lachlan contributed a poem and personal reflections, daughter Laura delivered a eulogy and Emily read a scripture (John 14: 1–6).
Tributes were delivered by Barry Breen
(St. Kilda) & Gary Dempsey
(Footscray and North Melbourne), Peter McKenna
(Collingwood), John Nicholls (Carlton), Des Tuddenham
(Collingwood), Mike Williamson
(former professional athlete and HSV 7 television commentator) and Eddie McGuire
(Collingwood FC President) all of whom had long, close friendships with 'Thommo'.
Musical contributions were made by tenor Peter Brocklehurst (Ave Maria
), Kate Ceberano
(Wind Beneath My Wings
) and Mike Brady
sang 'One Day in September' in which he varied the lyrics to sing 'Thommo, you were part of this old town; In life you were the best man on the ground'.
The service ran for two hours and was a moving and celebratory tribute to one of the humblest champions to have consistently played at the elite level of any Australian sport.
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, who played for most of his career at Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
.
Collingwood
He was recruited by Collingwood from North Reservoir after he had initially trained with, and had been rejected by EssendonEssendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
. Combining great physical size (200 cm, 95.5 kg) with tremendous athleticism, he provided Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
with a formidable around the ground presence.
Thompson played a total of 272 VFL games and scored 217 goals for Collingwood between 1965 and 1978, winning the club's best and fairest award a record 5 times, as well as the 1972 Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
.
Players Strike
In 1970 he and Des TuddenhamDes Tuddenham
Desmond Vincent Tuddenham is a former Australian rules footballer who played during the 1960s and 1970s. He was a half forward flanker....
, vice captain and club captain respectively, refused to play for Collingwood, going on strike
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
to protest at the perceived unfair salaries being paid to lure interstate players east. 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 1973-7 and captain 1978.
South Melbourne and Fitzroy
Thompson later played seasons for both South MelbourneSydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
(20 games and 39 goals in 1979) and Fitzroy
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
(13 games, 19 goals, 1980). However, in all of his sixteen season, 305-game VFL career with three senior clubs, he failed to play in a premiership team, despite appearing in four grand finals: the 1966 Grand Final (which Collingwood lost by one point), the 1970 Grand Final (which, despite being 44 points in front at half-time, Collingwood lost 10 by points), and the 1977 First Grand Final (which was a drawn match), and the 1977 Grand Final Replay (which Collingwood lost by 27 points) .
Interstate football
Thompson was also a regular Victorian interstate representative, and achieved All Australian selection after the 1972 Perth Carnival1972 Perth Carnival
The 1972 Perth Carnival was the 18th edition of the Australian National Football Carnival, an Australian rules football interstate competition....
. He served on the Collingwood board in 1982 and 1983. When Collingwood selected its official 'Team of the Twentieth Century' Len Thompson was selected as the first ruck.
Death
On 18 September 2007, Thompson died at the home of his former wife after a heart attack. He is survived by six children – Kari-Anne, Nicolas, Sam, Lachlan, Laura and Emily – and former partners Julie, Susi and Bronwyn. That day was also 42 years after Thompson's debut for Collingwood.Funeral
Len Thompson's funeral took place at Melbourne's St Paul's CathedralSt Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne
St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne, is the metropolitical and cathedral church of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, Victoria in Australia. It is the seat of the Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne and Metropolitan of the Province of Victoria...
at 10.30am on Thursday 25 September 2007. Conducted by The Dean, The Very Reverend David Richardson, it was attended by more than 1,200 mourners, led by his six children and including notable members of the AFL fraternity, friends and fans.
Sons Nicolas, Sam and Lachlan contributed a poem and personal reflections, daughter Laura delivered a eulogy and Emily read a scripture (John 14: 1–6).
Tributes were delivered by Barry Breen
Barry Breen
Barry Breen was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League, playing with St Kilda Football Club. Breen attended De La Salle College, Malvern...
(St. Kilda) & Gary Dempsey
Gary Dempsey
Gary Dempsey is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Footscray and North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League....
(Footscray and North Melbourne), Peter McKenna
Peter McKenna
Peter McKenna is a former Australian rules footballer, who played 180 games and kicked 838 goals with the Collingwood Football Club between 1965 and 1975, where he spent the majority of his career...
(Collingwood), John Nicholls (Carlton), Des Tuddenham
Des Tuddenham
Desmond Vincent Tuddenham is a former Australian rules footballer who played during the 1960s and 1970s. He was a half forward flanker....
(Collingwood), Mike Williamson
Mike Williamson (broadcaster)
Mike Williamson OAM is a former Australian television broadcaster.Williamson was a well-performed professional runner. Having been banned from professional foot-running for "running dead", he turned his efforts towards acting as a sports commentator of Australian rules football matches in the...
(former professional athlete and HSV 7 television commentator) and Eddie McGuire
Eddie McGuire
Edward Joseph "Eddie" McGuire AM is an Australian television presenter and businessman known for his long association with Australian rules football and the Channel 9 television network....
(Collingwood FC President) all of whom had long, close friendships with 'Thommo'.
Musical contributions were made by tenor Peter Brocklehurst (Ave Maria
Hail Mary
The Angelic Salutation, Hail Mary, or Ave Maria is a traditional biblical Catholic prayer asking for the intercession of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Hail Mary is used within the Catholic Church, and it forms the basis of the Rosary...
), Kate Ceberano
Kate Ceberano
Kate Ceberano is an Australian singer. She achieved success in the soul, jazz and pop genres as well as in her brief forays into musicals with Jesus Christ Superstar and film...
(Wind Beneath My Wings
Wind Beneath My Wings
"Wind Beneath My Wings" is the title of a song written in 1982 by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley. They recorded a demo of the song, which they gave to musician Bob Montgomery. Montgomery then recorded his own demo version of the song, changing it from the mid-tempo version he was given to a ballad...
) and Mike Brady
Mike Brady (musician)
Mike Brady is an Australian musician most commonly associated with the Australian rules football anthems "Up There Cazaly", referring to 1920s and 30s St Kilda player Roy Cazaly and "One Day in September". "Up There Cazaly" topped the Australian singles charts in September 1979 and briefly held...
sang 'One Day in September' in which he varied the lyrics to sing 'Thommo, you were part of this old town; In life you were the best man on the ground'.
The service ran for two hours and was a moving and celebratory tribute to one of the humblest champions to have consistently played at the elite level of any Australian sport.