<< SIX WORDS TO CHILL LABOR ~ MAIN ~ SMALL TARGET STRATEGY >>

LEN THOMPSON

Collingwood great Len Thompson has died at just 60.

UPDATE. Around midday, a fellow Collingwood fan at work called a similarly-minded pal at the ABC to commiserate over Thompson’s death. The ABC staffer hadn’t heard of it, and said: “That’s what you get from listening to Radio National.”

Posted by Tim B. on 09/17/2007 at 09:30 PM
  1. I’m sure he’ll be using the pearly gates as a set of posts. He’ll give St Peter a couple of flags.

    Posted by Penguin on 2007 09 17 at 09:50 PM • permalink

  2. I actually got the “couple of flags” reference.

    Could someone translate “ruck” into seppo please.

    Posted by yojimbo on 2007 09 17 at 10:07 PM • permalink

  3. Sad.  Len was a great ruckman, and the first modern ruckman.  He was a giant who could run all day and mastered every skill of the game.

    Posted by Mr Hackenbacker on 2007 09 17 at 10:34 PM • permalink

  4. Yojimbo:
        In basketball they have a tip-off to start or restart the game. The umpire tosses the ball into the air and tall players from either side contest it for possession.

        Sort of similar in Australian Rules where the umpire either bounces or tosses the ball high for the “ruckmen” to contest possession.

        That’s about as good an explanation as I can give.

    Posted by amortiser on 2007 09 17 at 10:36 PM • permalink

  5. Indeed he was a great player… how many of us here would have seen him…must be thirty years.  An ornament to the game,  shame about the jumper

    Posted by Rod C on 2007 09 17 at 10:39 PM • permalink

  6. I don’t know about you Tim, but I suddenly feel old. Who’s next, Gary Dempsey? Bruce Doull?

    Posted by Nic on 2007 09 17 at 10:43 PM • permalink

  7. Thompson is survived by his children Kari, Nicolas, Sam, Lachlan, Laura and Emily and his former partners Julie, Susi and Bronwyn.

    He was a busy boy.

    Posted by Nic on 2007 09 17 at 10:45 PM • permalink

  8. He played for the Force of Darkness, but he did an amazing job of it.

    Posted by Ash_ on 2007 09 17 at 10:49 PM • permalink

  9. It’s a harsh way to get drafted, but his new team’s got great facilities.

    Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 09 17 at 10:56 PM • permalink


  10. #10 I got an error when I tried to see your link Retread. Are you talking about the drag racing driver (I’m probably wrong about the drag racing, I saw that flicking through the ABC News) who slammed into a wall, his car blew up, and he survived with nary a scratch?

    Posted by Ash_ on 2007 09 17 at 11:05 PM • permalink

  11. #11 Ash_ Yeah, the link is bad but it was on Fox tonight. Don’t know if he hit a wall or his car just flipped but it was in Brisbane and they said he walked away from it.

    Posted by Retread on 2007 09 17 at 11:12 PM • permalink

  12. I saw Len Thompson in the South Yarra TAB earlier in the year. He looked fit and well and, as I’m a Collingwood supported (and, by definition, the salt of the earth) I said g’day and wished him all the best.

    A wonderful player and a nice guy. 60 is way too young.

    Posted by Jack Lacton on 2007 09 17 at 11:15 PM • permalink

  13. #10 Clicky Linky Retread.

    The driver was Phil Lamattina.

    It even has the speed he was going in miles.

    Posted by Ash_ on 2007 09 17 at 11:17 PM • permalink

  14. ‘;’;’‘;;

    Posted by 1.618 on 2007 09 17 at 11:17 PM • permalink

  15. A quick wave to Ashy.

    Posted by 1.618 on 2007 09 17 at 11:17 PM • permalink

  16. Thanks, Ash_. He’s one lucky driver.

    Posted by Retread on 2007 09 17 at 11:21 PM • permalink

  17. G’day 1.618. How’s your day?

    Posted by Ash_ on 2007 09 17 at 11:21 PM • permalink

  18. #17 Definitely Retread. I hope that lucky man bought himself a lotto ticket… or did he use up all of that day’s luck?

    Posted by Ash_ on 2007 09 17 at 11:24 PM • permalink

  19. 2. The ruck is where the ruckman get to try and knee each other with the benefit of a run up, while pretending to be “going for the ball”. The downside is when knee clashes with knee - which is common enough - which tends to cause long term injuries to the ligaments.

    Some crappy examples are in http://youtube.com/watch?v=gml9rD7tWNc (18 seconds in is the main goal, knee to head and winning the ball)

    Posted by sam on 2007 09 17 at 11:26 PM • permalink

  20. Hey, Ashy.I have a cold and am on sudafeds…

    Posted by 1.618 on 2007 09 17 at 11:35 PM • permalink

  21. I’m like a buzzy bee at the moment.

    Posted by 1.618 on 2007 09 17 at 11:36 PM • permalink

  22. #21 That’s no good, 1.618.

    Um, I like you, but while you’re sick, and only while you’re sick, you’re invited to (and I say this to everyone I know who’s sick) stay away from me!!!

    I’m not a good patient…

    Posted by Ash_ on 2007 09 17 at 11:44 PM • permalink

  23. LOl. I don’t want to get you and the bubby sick. Acheewwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

    Posted by 1.618 on 2007 09 17 at 11:48 PM • permalink

  24. I know, I just want to detol myself and everything. I hear what you’re saying.

    Posted by 1.618 on 2007 09 17 at 11:50 PM • permalink

  25. Talk again later bye lovely.

    Posted by 1.618 on 2007 09 17 at 11:50 PM • permalink

  26. #24, 25, 26, I’m sure you’ll pick up a bit soon.

    Go lay under a nice, warm blanket, and have some chicken soup. If that doesn’t work, a shot of bourbon, straight, every half-hour will. It’ll kill anything.

    Of course, I don’t advocate this treatment for a cold for anyone under 21 (Waves to Meeja Watch).

    Posted by Ash_ on 2007 09 17 at 11:54 PM • permalink

  27. #4,Amortiser.

    Your explanation was most helpful.  Thank you.  The article made reference to his ability to jump and tip the ball to other members of his team. 

    Just reading between the lines, he seemed to be a larger than life character.

    Ruck-y’all talk funny down there..;)

    Posted by yojimbo on 2007 09 18 at 12:05 AM • permalink

  28. Actually Gary Dempsey almost died from a brain haemorrhage this year.  Fortunately the Carlton club doctor (he’s a ruck coach there) sensed what had happened and got him off to a hospital quick smart.  He’s OK now.

    Posted by Mr Hackenbacker on 2007 09 18 at 12:06 AM • permalink

  29. #28 You always talk funny when you’re on the bottom [dictator]TOP! It’s TOP! When the world follows my dictorial, you’ll know![/antidictator] of the world.

    Posted by Ash_ on 2007 09 18 at 12:17 AM • permalink

  30. #30

    Yeah, right, hmmmm, sure, of course!

    Posted by yojimbo on 2007 09 18 at 12:24 AM • permalink

  31. #31 I’m glad [We iz da top! We iz, we iz] you recognise our greatness.

    By the way, anyone know how to get Safari to behave with Aussie spelling? Oh, and “Application Errors”? Does this just mean it’s crap, dressed up as Apple in Melbourne?

    Posted by Ash_ on 2007 09 18 at 12:36 AM • permalink

  32. Forgot to close tag [/We iz da top! We iz, we iz]. Sorry.

    Posted by Ash_ on 2007 09 18 at 12:37 AM • permalink

  33. Among many things I don’t understand in this article written in a foreign language that sounds remarkably like English is how you can have a “preliminary final.”

    Posted by Mike G on 2007 09 18 at 12:40 AM • permalink

  34. Dead at 60? Jeez, that’s only 14 years older than me.

    Posted by SwinishCapitalist on 2007 09 18 at 03:02 AM • permalink

  35. 27.
    / dear mediawitch…...

    Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2007 09 18 at 03:48 AM • permalink

  36. While his on-field prowess can not be faulted

    His off-field work will be forgotten as Eddie McGuire applies to Pope Benny for making Thompson a Saint

    He was a failed businessman leaving creditors out of pocket when he declared himself bankrupt after which he sold his Brownlow Medal with none of that money being seen by his creditors as was sold under his child’s name

    Plus he was as a convicted drunk driver that lost his license and was lucky not to do a Darren Millane

    And as noted above was a philandering womaniser that could not keep his pecker in his pants

    Posted by Munga on 2007 09 18 at 08:32 AM • permalink

  37. Ms Trimble said he was in constant contact with his family in his final days.

    “He was in touch with his boys and his girls daily and in all of his calls he said ‘I love you’ and they would respond the same, so things were going well for him.”

    May he rest in peace.

    Posted by JAFA on 2007 09 18 at 02:48 PM • permalink

  38. Page 1 of 1 pages

Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.

Members:
Login | Register | Member List

Please note: you must use a real email address to register. You will be sent an account activation email. Clicking on the url in the email will automatically activate your account. Until you do so your account will be held in the "pending" list and you won't be able to log in. All accounts that are "pending" for more than one week will be deleted.