Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Grant Thomas

Known as
Grant Thomas

Born
14 February 1958 (age 66)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 20y 70d
Last game: 27y 163d

Height and weight
Height: 186 cm
Weight: 94 kg

Senior clubs
St. Kilda; North Melbourne; Fitzroy

Jumper numbers
St. Kilda: 45, 30, 40, 18
North Melbourne: 18
Fitzroy: 2

Recruited from
St. Kilda (1984); North Melbourne (1985)

Grant Thomas

Advanced stats
ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
St. KildaV/AFL1978-198372210.2921%11.964.933.639
North MelbourneV/AFL1984710.1429%9.435.432.860
FitzroyV/AFL1985400.0025%6.002.752.000
V/AFL1978-198583220.2722%11.464.873.489
Total1978-198583220.2722%11.464.873.489

AFL: 8,992nd player to appear, 2,929th most games played, 3,543rd most goals kickedSt. Kilda: 1,213th player to appear, 211th most games played, 297th most goals kickedNorth Melbourne: 744th player to appear, 711th most games played, 732nd most goals kickedFitzroy: 1,025th player to appear, 873rd most games played, 1,131st most goals kicked

Having played for Frankston YCW Grant Thomas joined St Kilda where he would spend the vast majority of his football career, both playing and non-playing. After struggling for a game initially he found his niche at centre half back and went on to play 72 VFL games and score 21 goals from 1978 to 1983. He completed his league career with brief stints at North Melbourne (seven games and a goal in 1984) and Fitzroy (four games, no goals, 1985).

The highlight of Thomas’ coaching career was his six season (2001-6) tenure at St Kilda, which featured the adherence to techniques and concepts more commonly associated with business, in which Thomas had considerable experience, than football. It was also quite a successful stint with the Saints qualifying for three successive finals series under Thomas’ tutelage.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Publications

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.