Pie Great Made His Finals Mark
The Age
Wednesday September 20, 2006
COLLINGWOOD'S tradition of springing surprises at the selection table during finals includes choosing a 16-year-old from Ararat, Rene Kink, to make his senior debut in the 1973 preliminary final against Richmond. In 1981, pacy utility Noel Lovell made his senior debut in the preliminary final against Geelong.
But the Magpie who played his first senior game in a preliminary final and made the biggest impression is former ruckman Len Thompson, in 1965 against Essendon.Thompson began the week unsure whether his season had finished, having been reported for striking Melbourne's Derek Feldmann in a reserves final. Before the tribunal hearing, Thompson was enlisted by Collingwood coach Bob Rose to have marking practice at training with ruckman Ray "Gabbo" Gabelich.As one who had just passed his 18th birthday, Thompson felt too shy to get in Gabbo's way. He then leapt over the top of the burly veteran to take six marks from seven kicks. Thompson recalled: "Bob pulled me across and said, 'Son, are you dumb? The marking practice is for him, not for you'."Gabbo went down after a subsequent marking attempt and hurt his ankle. As the teenager was about to leave the rooms to go to his tribunal hearing, Rose told him that if he escaped the charge, he would play in the seniors. The tribunal let him off with a severe reprimand.Thompson and fellow novice Paul Wadham were duly named. Thompson was told early in the match that his head would be spinning if he went near the ball. The threat was made by Bombers ruckman Don McKenzie, whose anger was piqued by the incident in which Magpie defender Duncan Wright knocked out Essendon's John Somerville. Thompson's response was to make sure he played in front. "I didn't want to see what was coming," he said.Thompson received 11 free kicks and was praised for his ruckwork and general play. But the Bombers won by 55 points.
© 2006 The Age
