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| Personal information | |
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| Birth | June 21, 1987 , Victoria |
| Recruited from | Gippsland Power |
| Height and weight | 184 cm / 80 kg |
| Playing career¹ | |
| Debut | Round 1, March 4, 2006, Collingwood vs. Adelaide, at Telstra Dome |
| Team(s) | Collingwood (2006-)
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| ¹ Statistics to end of Round 21, 2008 season | |
| Career highlights | |
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Dale Thomas (born 21 June 1987) is an Australian rules footballer for Collingwood in the Australian Football League.
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Dale Thomas grew up on a little farm in Drouin with his mother Kaye and his sister Jessica. His mother loved footy and supported Hawthorn, while his dad supported Geelong. His parents got divorced when he was 13 years old. As a child he grew up idolising the Geelong Cats and Gary Ablett, hoping to one day play AFL football just like him. He idolised Gary Ablett so much that he used to watch his Grandfather's tapes of Ablett and Geelong, over and over, and recreate the marks and goals. His favourite highlight from Ablett was his one handed mark over Gary Pert.
His first competitive matches, were when he was eight. He played with the Hallora under-12s. When asked by the team management to register his birth date, he didn't know what it was because he was only eight years old, so he repeated the one given by the kid in front of him. He played so well that when he was 13 years old many of his friends and team mates knew that he would become an AFL star. His mother was so dedicated to making his AFL dream happen that she would kick the footy with Dale and shoot Netball's with sister Jessica. [1]
In 2003 he was selected in the Under-16 Vic Country squad playing on the wing, he was also selected in the 2005 Vic Country squad playing on the half forward flank. He was the Vice-Captain of the Gippsland Power squad in 2005, a goalkicker in 14 out of 18 games for them and Drouin Secondary College school captain in 2005. Thomas collected 20 disposals and kicked four goals in a best-on-ground performance in Gippsland Power’s TAC Cup premiership, and also got selection in the TAC Cup Team of the Year, prompting the Magpies to select him with their first pick, number two overall, in the 2005 AFL Draft.[2]
Thomas made his debut in the AFL in round one of the 2006 AFL Season, in Collingwood's match against the Adelaide Crows. Thomas gathered 16 possessions, kicked two goals and took a spectacular mark on an Adelaide opponents back. In Collingwood's round two win against Hawthorn gathered twenty possessions and was nominated for the 2006 AFL Rising Star award.
During the 2006 ANZAC Day match against Essendon Thomas was nominated for both Mark of the Year and Goal of the Year. He took a spectacular mark over Essendon player Andrew Welsh. And kicked a magnificent goal, he baulked an opponent and kicked a 50 metre goal under pressure.
Thomas' season was marred by an injury to his collarbone on August 5, but returned to play in Collingwood's defeat in the 2006 First Elimination Final to the Western Bulldogs, where he took a spectacular mark on the shoulders of an opponent.
He became so popular in his first season of AFL that his guernsey's in the merchandise shop, sold twice as many as club champion and then Captain Nathan Buckley.
During 2007, Thomas was played in a variety of positions including a regular role in the midfield and the forward line, and also instances in defence. He played every game in the 2007 season. He was considered a match-winner in the Round 1 fightback against the North Melbourne Kangaroos, and was also judged one of the best afield in Round 3 against the Richmond Tigers where he collected 25 disposals. After being injured three days earlier against the Port Adelaide Power, he battled in the traditional ANZAC Day game against the Essendon Bombers.
Highlights of the 2007 season came during the Sydney Swans match where Collingwood was considered underdogs with a depleted defence. Thomas recorded a career high 4 goals, and was thus awarded three Brownlow votes. He was also judged best afield by commentators against St Kilda where he recorded 18 possessions and 2 goals.
Most memorable, he slotted through a neat goal from the boundary line while being chased by two St Kilda players; commentators labelled it "Goal of the Year" until it was judged out-of-bounds, and this incident has since been imperative in the discussion of umpiring, and it has been dubbed "non-goal of the year". [3]. Thomas was a vital part of the Pies finals matches. His runs down the ground in the Semi Final and Preliminary Final are considered one of the most important things in the Pies win against West Coast and close loss against Geelong.
Thomas' year ended with a career-high four votes at the Brownlow count and placing sixth in the Copeland trophy count.
Thomas began his 2008 campaign with style in Dubai, where he took a traditional "specky" on the shoulders of his Adelaide opponent in Round 1 of the NAB Pre-Season. Three weeks later, he kicked a freakish goal against Port Adelaide during a practice match at Princes Park - as the ball was bounced in the goalsquare, Thomas dodged both ruckmen, jumped in the air and kicked the ball over his head through the goals, right on the siren.
Thomas was named in Mike Sheahan's "Top 50 Players" at number 42.
Thomas was named one of the best in Collingwood's opening game against Fremantle, after kicking two goals and collecting 15 disposals. Two weeks later, in Round 3 against Richmond, he kicked three goals, including a superb right-foot kick from the boundary line, dribbling through for a goal (nominated for, and winning, Goal of the Week), as well as taking a fantastic mark on the shoulders of Tiger Joel Bowden, resulting in a goal. Both pieces of play were also nominated for the collingwoodfc.com.au 'Pie Plays of the Day'. Thomas gained another nomination for Mark of the Week in the next around against Carlton, leaping high to take a great mark on the shoulders of both opponents and teammate Anthony Rocca.
Thomas was named in the extended squad for the Victorian team in the 150-year-anniversary AFL Tribute Match, to be played on May 10. He unfortunately didn't make the 25 man squad. [4] This is what he said after he found out he was named
"It would be fantastic to play in the match, because it's the first time State of Origin has been back for a while, and I remember growing up watching it on the telly so it would be great to be a part of. Hopefully I can get a kick, if I manage to get into the side. It's always good to play with great players, and in my first two years, I was lucky enough to play with Bucks (Nathan Buckley). To play on the same side as some of the greats of the game would just be a great thrill."
Thomas endured a heavily-publicized "form slump"[5] , the first of his career, after poor performances against North Melbourne, Essendon and Hawthorn, and averaging only 13 possessions. He returned after the Hall of Fame break by defying his critics with a 21-possession game, running mainly with St Kilda's Nick Dal Santo. [6]
In Thomas' 50th game he put in a great performance and kicked a goal that left supporters speechless. With 18 touches, playing on the 2007 Brownlow Medallist Jimmy Bartel, in the Magpies 86 point mauling of the reigning premiers, to give the Cat's their first loss of the season and second loss in 28 matches. His opponent Bartel got 20 possessions but most of them were ineffective disposals and clanger kicks, Bartel had the lowest disposal efficiency with 55%. In the last quarter Dale Thomas chased after the loose ball on the fifty metre ark, ran in ten metres, and kicked a checkside goal that dribbled through from the boundary, with Geelong opponent Cameron Ling closing in on him. It was nominated for Goal of the Week (Round 9). [7]
Dale Thomas followed up his good form with another strong performance in the Magpies 100 point thrashing of West Coast. Thomas had 20 possessions and three goals. His first goal of the day is a contender for the 2008 Goal of the Year. He received a handpass from teammate Rhyce Shaw while on the run 100 metres out from goal. He collected the ball ran 60 metres weaving in and out of Eagle's opponents, took 4 bounces and slotted it through 40 metres out, kicking it just before getting tackled, celebrating his brilliant goal on his knees. [8] He also received a cut lip which required stitches. [9]
Thomas played in the Magpie's 21 point win over Melbourne on the Queen's Birthday. He picked up 19 possessions and kicked one goal. He sealed the game for Collingwood with a similar goal to his Round 10 goal Vs West Coast. He received the ball 70 metres from goal, played on, bounced it three times and kicked it 40 metres out on 45 degree angle almost hitting the goal post.
In the Magpies 30 point loss to Carlton, Thomas had a quiet match getting only 13 possessions. He kicked 1 goal and 2 behinds. At round 12 of 2008 Thomas is averaging 15.75 possessions a game and 1.33 goals a match.
Dale Thomas had a quiet match in the Magpies 10 point loss to the Western Bulldogs. He got 15 possessions, however he had a 93% disposal efficiency the highest on the day.
Dale Thomas dyed his hair black and played possibly one of his best 1st halfs of footy in Round 14. Up at Sydney the ground was below average due to a Rugby game during the week, that didn't stop Thomas from setting up Collingwood for a 29 point win. His first opportunity came 5 minutes into the match. He lept over his opponent and took a screamer, he followed it up kicking the first goal of the match. He continued to chase and tackle in the first quarter. In the second quarter he took an uncontested mark in the Pie's forward 50, and kicked truly to kick the second goal for Collingwood. A few minutes later he took another screamer in the goalsquare, which was almost identical to his first one, he kicked his third goal for the match. The second half was quiet for Thomas because he was heavily tagged for his 1st half efforts, but it was too late for the Swan's with the Magpie's running away from them in the 2nd half. He was named as one of the best on the ground.
Dale Thomas had a quiet game in Round 15 2008 but helped create space for teammate Paul Medhurst who kicked 5 goals in the Magpies 32 point win against Adealaide. He kicked one goal in the game which was a snap over his shoulder.
In the Magpies 18 point loss to North Melbourne in Round 16, Dale Thomas had another quiet match. He spent most of the match pressuring the opposition into mistakes. One example of his pressure was in the seconds quarter Thomas chased 3 players and caught the next player and set up a goal for Collingwood.
Dale Thomas played a fantastic game against Essendon in Round 17. Thomas' performance was one positive that the Pies could take out of their disappointing 48 point loss to the Bombers. He had an outstanding 1st quarter racking up 11 possessions, but went quiet later on only managing another 10 for the match. He was named best on ground for Collingwood.
Thomas had another solid performance in the Magpies 54 point loss to Hawthorn in Round 18. He picked up 19 possessions but missed 2 goals.
After the Magpies terrible week because of the Didak and Shaw drink driving incident, Thomas showed why he could one day captain the Magpies. The Magpies beat St Kilda against all odds by 14 points, going in massive underdogs. Thomas racked up 22 possessions, 13 of them contested, kicked a goal, took a specky and a courageous mark running back with the flight of the ball. He showed critics that he doesn't just have flashes of brilliance, playing a full four quarter game.
Thomas was good early in the Magpies 31 point win over Port Adelaide in Round 20 but injured his left knee late in the game. He took a mark from a kick in and had a Power player run into him. He went down into the rooms for a majority of the last quarter, he came back on in the last 5 minutes of the fourth quarter. He finished the game with 10 possessions and 1 goal.
Dale Thomas ended his run of 46 consecutive games after not being named in the Collingwood side for Round 21 against the Swans. He had bleeding and swelling on the back of his knee which happened after he injured it on Round 19. He was named out due to an upper calf injury.
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Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (August 2008) |
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