Andrew Thompson (footballer)

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**Andrew Laurence Scott Thompson**
Personal Info
Birth	October 21, 1972,
Recruited from	Old Melburnians (VAFA)
Playing Career¹
Debut	Round 1, March 29, 1997, St Kilda vs. Hawthorn, at Waverley Park
Team(s)	St Kilda (1997-) 194 games, 93 goals
¹ Statistics to end of 2005 season
Career Highlights
St Kilda Best and Fairest 2000

Andrew Laurence Scott Thompson (born October 21, 1972) is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.

Thompson was recruited in the 1996 AFL Draft at pick no 62, and had been picked up from the VAFA club Old Melburnians. At the time of his recruitment he was 24 years of age, relatively old for an AFL footballer to begin his career. Thompson later said that being recruited at a late age allowed him to become more travelled and worldly than other footballers who begin their careers at 17 or 18 years of age.

Thompson quickly established himself in the St Kilda lineup in 1997, missing only 2 games (in Round 2 and 3), and playing every game from Round 4 onwards, including St Kilda's losing Grand Final.

He was noted for his hard work ethic and consistency, and this led to him winning the Trevor Barker Award for St Kilda's best and fairest player in 2000. Despite a dismal year for the Saints, where they won the wooden spoon, Thompson continued toiling and was a shining light in an otherwise disappointing side.

Thompson recently signed a one-year contract with the Saints for the 2006 season, and was part of a veteran group, with Justin Peckett and Stephen Powell that signed on for one last shot at a premiership.