NEVER TOO GOOD
LEOPOLD premiership captain Jai Thompson has pointed to his return through the reserves last week as a testament to his club’s strength this season.
The Lions sit atop the GFL ladder with just one loss from 14 matches and can atone for their one defeat when they meet St Mary’s for a second time this season on Saturday.
Thompson missed two weeks of football after suffering second-degree burns to his hand while trying to light a fire, but made his reserves debut last weekend wearing a protective glove.
The former VFL footballer played the entire match, amassing a wealth of disposals in Leopold’s 164-point reserves win over North Shore to clear himself for a return to the seniors this Saturday. The former captain said he had no issue with the club’s policy of coming back through the twos, despite clearly being in the Lions’ best side.
“I know other boys have done it as well, like Nick Bourke and Kevin Bourke and Mitch Patten,” Thompson said. “We’ve had some pretty exciting players roll in through the seconds team this year and really earn their spots. Everyone’s on that same page – no matter who you are, if you miss a few weeks or you’re not doing the right things, your spot can be taken.”
Mitch McGuire is another who will have to earn his spot after a mid-season overseas trip. He will return through the reserves in Round 17.
“He’s probably made it hard for himself to get back into that senior team,” Thompson said. “But he will be putting pressure on, definitely. He’ll come back and play the best footy he can at 12 o’clock and if he’s playing good enough footy and he’s pushing for that spot, then he gets the spot, but he’s got to earn that back.
“That’s the way it is around Leopold at the moment. It’s fantastic to know we’ve got so much depth there and the pressure is making everyone train that little bit harder.”
Thompson said his club had set itself the goal of beating all 11 rivals, and St Mary’s this Saturday is the only team that stands in its way.
“It’s probably our biggest game of the year so far,” he said. “St Mary’s touched us up earlier in the year, but this is our opportunity to try and get some redemption. Hopefully we can come away with that win and knock off every team in the league.”