AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game
Full name
Grant Thomas
Known as
Grant Thomas
Born
14 February 1958 (age 67)
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)
Club | League | Career span | Games | Goals | Avg | Win % | AKI | AHB | AMK | BV |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
St. Kilda | V/AFL | 1978-1983 | 72 | 21 | 0.29 | 21% | 11.96 | 4.93 | 3.63 | 9 |
North Melbourne | V/AFL | 1984 | 7 | 1 | 0.14 | 29% | 9.43 | 5.43 | 2.86 | 0 |
Fitzroy | V/AFL | 1985 | 4 | 0 | 0.00 | 25% | 6.00 | 2.75 | 2.00 | 0 |
V/AFL | 1978-1985 | 83 | 22 | 0.27 | 22% | 11.46 | 4.87 | 3.48 | 9 | |
Total | 1978-1985 | 83 | 22 | 0.27 | 22% | 11.46 | 4.87 | 3.48 | 9 |
AFL: 8,992nd player to appear, 2,964th most games played, 3,580th most goals kickedSt. Kilda: 1,213th player to appear, 212th most games played, 298th most goals kickedNorth Melbourne: 744th player to appear, 719th most games played, 736th 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