Matt Thomas
Encyclopedia
Matt Thomas is an Australian rules football
er, who currently plays for Port Adelaide
in the Australian Football League
(AFL). Recruited at pick number 8 in the 2006 Pre-season Draft
from Sandringham, he has become known as a tough player. He can play as either a defender or a midfielder. Because he was drafted from outside South Australia, Thomas was placed in the SANFL internal draft, which lets clubs choose which players they recruit when the said player is not playing for their South Australia AFL team. He was picked up by Norwood
, and made his debut in the third round of the SANFL, against Woodville-West Torrens
. He ended up playing 10 games for norwood through the 2006 season, and scored one goal.
In 2006, after a few years of dominance, Port Adelaide struggled and realised that they would not make the finals. They started to blood some youth, and Thomas was called in to make his AFL debut in round 14 against Richmond
, after some impressive mid-season form with Norwood in the SANFL. His first kick in AFL football resulted in a goal, although Port Adelaide lost the match by 38 points. He was kept in the side that played Geelong
the next week, and scored another goal. He then played another six games for the year, playing eight in total and kicking three goals. In the showdown match against Adelaide in Round 21, Thomas was involved in an incident with Adelaide's Trent Hentschel
. Hentschel gathered the ball and was about to kick for goal, when Thomas laid a tackle, forcing Hentschel's knee to be pushed in sideways, requiring a knee reconstruction.
In 2007, Thomas spent time in hospital, after complications from having his appendix removed. He lost 15 kg in just two weeks, after an abdominal infection following his appendix removal. It was so severe that he had a section of his intestine removed.
In 2007, he played just four games for Port Adelaide, from round 6 to 9.
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 currently plays for Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
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...
(AFL). Recruited at pick number 8 in the 2006 Pre-season Draft
2006 AFL Draft
The 2006 AFL Draft is a recent national draft of the Australian Football League. The AFL Draft is the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League....
from Sandringham, he has become known as a tough player. He can play as either a defender or a midfielder. Because he was drafted from outside South Australia, Thomas was placed in the SANFL internal draft, which lets clubs choose which players they recruit when the said player is not playing for their South Australia AFL team. He was picked up by Norwood
Norwood Football Club
Norwood Football Club, nicknamed, Redlegs, is an Australian rules football club belonging to the South Australian National Football League in the state of South Australia...
, and made his debut in the third round of the SANFL, against Woodville-West Torrens
Woodville-West Torrens Football Club
Woodville-West Torrens Football Club is an Australian rules football club playing in the South Australian National Football League . It was formed in 1990 from an amalgamation of the neighbouring Woodville and West Torrens football clubs and played its inaugural game in 1991...
. He ended up playing 10 games for norwood through the 2006 season, and scored one goal.
In 2006, after a few years of dominance, Port Adelaide struggled and realised that they would not make the finals. They started to blood some youth, and Thomas was called in to make his AFL debut in round 14 against Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
, after some impressive mid-season form with Norwood in the SANFL. His first kick in AFL football resulted in a goal, although Port Adelaide lost the match by 38 points. He was kept in the side that played Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
the next week, and scored another goal. He then played another six games for the year, playing eight in total and kicking three goals. In the showdown match against Adelaide in Round 21, Thomas was involved in an incident with Adelaide's Trent Hentschel
Trent Hentschel
Trent Hentschel was an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. He was taken in the 2002 Pre-season Draft at pick No.5...
. Hentschel gathered the ball and was about to kick for goal, when Thomas laid a tackle, forcing Hentschel's knee to be pushed in sideways, requiring a knee reconstruction.
In 2007, Thomas spent time in hospital, after complications from having his appendix removed. He lost 15 kg in just two weeks, after an abdominal infection following his appendix removal. It was so severe that he had a section of his intestine removed.
In 2007, he played just four games for Port Adelaide, from round 6 to 9.