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Len Thompson's 1972 Brownlow medal: 9ct gold and enamel medal,…
Sale Title:
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Melbourne
Date:
30-Mar-2011
Lot No.
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Description:
Len Thompson's 1972 Brownlow medal: 9ct gold and enamel medal, with on front 'VFL/ Chas. Brownlow Trophy', and engraved on reverse 'L. Thompson, Collingwood F.C., 1972', maker's stamp 'K.G. Luke', original royal blue ribbed-silk ribbon, with original presentation case. (Ex Lot 803, Len Thompson collection, Christies Melbourne, September 1999). Len Thompson - Collingwood 1965-78, 270 games, 217 goals. South Melbourne 1979, 20 games, 39 goals. Fitzroy 1980, 13 games, 19 goals. (b: 27 Aug 1947 - 18 Sept 2007, 200 cm, 95kg), probably the first giant ruckman to combine 'rial skills with tremendous mobility, Thompson was a truly gifted athlete. Collingwood recruited him from north Reservoir after Essendon missed its chance to secure him and he quickly established himself as one of the finest ruckmen of his era. Thompson made his debut in the 1965 Preliminary Final after three rucks were outed with injury and immediately established himself as a star. One of the few disappointments of his career was playing in four Grand Finals without a premiership. He often crossed swords with the committees at Collingwood and the first major bust-up was in 1970 when he and Tuddenham went on strike over demands for greater pay in the face of big payouts to interstate players. He won Collingwood's best and fairest award five times (a record) and won the 1972 Brownlow medal. He then resigned over another pay dispute, the pay demands were damaging to the club and Thompson himself, a tremendously safe mark and a clever ground player despite his great height, Thompson was Magpie vice-Captain from 1973-77 and finally became club Captain in 1978. A regular Victorian representative, he also captained the state in 1974 and 1978. in addition, he was named all-Australian in 1972. Thompson was part of a major clearout in 1979 even though he desperately wanted to stay for his 15th year. He was troubled by leg problems late in his career and had short stints with South Melbourne and Fitzroy. He later became a Collingwood committeeman, but lamented that many players left Collingwood in unhappy circumstances. (from 'The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers' by Holmesby and Main)
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Memorabilia: Sporting - AFL/VFL