Paul Thomas? Opinion

[simonc]

I remember a few seasons ago watching Paul Thomas play, was a handy player, not very quick but serviceable. We delisted him I think at the end of 2005 which I sorta didnt agree with, there were worse players than him, eg Henneman, Bolton. Whatever happened to him after he left Essendon?

 

[OB1]

I remember a few seasons ago watching Paul Thomas play, was a handy player, not very quick but serviceable. We delisted him I think at the end of 2005 which I sorta didnt agree with, there were worse players than him, eg Henneman, Bolton. Whatever happened to him after he left Essendon?

He went back to the SANFL where he's captain of his team (can't remember which one). I really thought he never got a fair chance to prove himself. He was fantastic in his 1st game for us (wiz fiz cup admittedly) but then only had limited games & hardly even given a sniff in the middle (where he played in SA). He was never going to be a superstar but could have become part of an improved midfield rotation. As you point out - he certainly showed more than some of the guys who were retained instead of him.

 

[The Dustbin]

He went back to the SANFL where he's captain of his team (can't remember which one). I really thought he never got a fair chance to prove himself. He was fantastic in his 1st game for us (wiz fiz cup admittedly) but then only had limited games & hardly even given a sniff in the middle (where he played in SA). He was never going to be a superstar but could have become part of an improved midfield rotation. As you point out - he certainly showed more than some of the guys who were retained instead of him.

Played backline at Centrals. I think he was bought to the club to take over from M. Johnson, so he could be released into the midfield.

Didn't work out for Johno or Thomo.

 

[MickyCrow]

Champion bloke, been a mate of mine for years.

Your right is captain of the Central District Bulldogs, mostly playing half back, but doing nicely, also a teacher now

Was never given a decent enough run at the big time by Sheedy, but then again ******* Ayres delisted him after one year in 02,

Bloody Dumbarses, the bloke tackles like a machine

 

[monty1104]

Yeah I was spewing we let him go. I thought he could have been great.

 

[ManWithNoName]

Dead certain something happened behind the scenes. No way should he have been delisted based on his on-field form.

 

[wasupwidat]

i didnt c wot he did wrong to get delisted after 1 year in which he didnt do bad

 

[fish_bowl]

i dont think it was a case of paul thomas doing anything wrong, it was just that he was one of many similar players we had at the time. even now we have an axcess amout of back flankers/back pockets. i think it was very unfortunate that he wasnt given atleast another year. i remember matthew lloyd saying at the time that it was the most disapointing delisting he had seen since he has been at the club. im suprised no other club took a look at him.

 

[ant555]

i dont think it was a case of paul thomas doing anything wrong, it was just that he was one of many similar players we had at the time. even now we have an axcess amout of back flankers/back pockets. i think it was very unfortunate that he wasnt given atleast another year. i remember matthew lloyd saying at the time that it was the most disapointing delisting he had seen since he has been at the club. im suprised no other club took a look at him.

Exactly , slowish half back flankers with questionable kicking are not really in big demand in the current version of the AFL.

 

[simonc]

Considering how quick the game has become over the past few years just wondering whether if he was playing today would he be in our best 22????

Id say he def be in our top 28 and would be a handy inclusion if someone like Welshy, NLM or MJ were injured.

 

[Bomber32]

I was very surprised that he was delisted after just one year.

 

[bomberrob]

yeh thomas is a very good player here in the sanfl and i was shocked thatn essendon got rid of him and kept clowns like bolton etc,should have kept him and wonder what the real reason was

 

[BurnleyBomber]

I know for a fact that there was one incident where he and another former Essendon player were involved in. Both recruited and delisted the same year. This might not have been the only reason why he was delisted but I know it played a big part in it.

Please don't ask me who this other player is, I'm not going to tell you who it it. All I'll say is that he's a mate of a mate and that's it.

 

[simonc]

Well here is the official trade list for 2004

Pre season: 6, Ty Zantuck from Richmond played 6 games with Essendon
Draft Selection: 14, Angus Monfries from Sturt Draft
Draft Selection: 30, Andrew Lee from Tassie Mariners Draft
Draft Selection: 46, Henry Slattery from West Adelaide Draft
Draft Selection: 60, Paul Thomas from Central Districts Draft. Played 8 games with Essendon
Rookie: 11, Ryan Bain from Oakleigh Chargers Draft. Played 0 games with Essendon
Rookie: 27, Ben Jolley from Calder Cannons Draft

I guess we can draw our own conclusions from this then hey !!!!!!!

 

[simonc]

Well I do remember Hirdy saying a few years ago that there was some "bad blood" at the club but they are no longer with us, was he referring to these players???

 

[Longy413]

Well I do remember Hirdy saying a few years ago that there was some "bad blood" at the club but they are no longer with us, was he referring to these players???

Paul Thomas wasn't one of those.

He was talking of Zantuck, Bullen, Haynes, Murphy...

Paul Thomas had the respect of everyone in the club, to the extent that Matthew Lloyd made a last ditch effort to talk Sheeds into keeping him on the list.

Paul Thomas' biggest problem was that he was born 10-12 years too late.