Len Thompson
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| Personal Info | |
|---|---|
| Birth | August 27, 1947, Victoria |
| Recruited from | North Reservoir
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| Playing Career¹ | |
| Debut | 1965, Collingwood vs. Essendon, at MCG (Prel. Final) |
| Team(s) | Collingwood (1965-78)
270 Games, 217 Goals South Melbourne (1979) 20 Games, 39 Goals Fitzroy (1980) 13 Games, 19 Goals |
| ¹ Statistics to end of 1980 season | |
| Career Highlights | |
|
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Len Thompson born August 27, 1947, is a former Australian rules footballer.
Combining physical enormity (200cm, 95.5kg) with tremendous athleticism, Thompson often ruled the ruck contests as though he owned them, whilst simultaneously providing Collingwood with a formidable around the ground presence. The Magpies recruited Thompson from North Reservoir after he had initially been rejected by Essendon, a club which, ironically, would end up struggling in the ruck for much of Thompson's career. Len Thompson played a total of 272 VFL games and booted 217 goals for the Magpies between 1965 and 1978, winning the club's best and fairest award a record 5 times, as well as the 1972 Brownlow Medal.
He later played briefly for both South Melbourne (20 games and 39 goals in 1979) and Fitzroy (13 games, 19 goals, 1980), but his name will forever be synonymous with Collingwood. Undoubtedly the biggest disappointment of Len Thompson's auspicious, sixteen season, 305 game VFL career was his failure to play in a premiership team, despite appearing in four grand finals. He was a regular Victorian interstate representative, and achieved All Australian selection after the 1972 Perth carnival.
When Collingwood selected its official 'Team of the Twentieth Century' Len Thompson was the obvious choice to lead the first ruck.
| Preceded by Terry Waters |
Copeland Trophy winner 1967 & 1968 |
Succeeded by Barry Price |
| Preceded by Wayne Richardson |
Copeland Trophy winner 1972 & 1973 |
Succeeded by Wayne Richardson |
| Preceded by Robert Hyde |
Copeland Trophy winner 1977 |
Succeeded by Ray Shaw |
| Preceded by Ian Stewart |
Brownlow Medal winner 1972 |
Succeeded by Keith Greig |
