Ball magnet midfielder Scott Thompson’s set a modern-day AFL record on this day five seasons ago.
Thompson became the first player to collect more than 50 possessions in a match in over two decades when he amassed 51 disposals against the Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium in Round 22, 2011.
He was the first person to crack 51 touches in the AFL era and came close to matching Greg Williams’ all-time possession record of 53 disposals back in 1989 against St Kilda, which would later be matched by Gold Coast skipper Gary Ablett in 2012.
Thompson racked up an incredible 21 kicks, 30 handballs and also had nine clearances for good measure in Adelaide’s 61-point win over the new expansion club.
Thompson’s performance came in the midst of a difficult season for Adelaide. The Crows had won just six games leading into the Round 22 clash and were languishing near the bottom of the AFL ladder.
The tough onballer took it upon himself to establish the tone of the contest, racking up an incredible 18 possessions in the first quarter alone to help to Crows build a seven-goal buffer at the first break.
The Suns moved youngster Dion Prestia onto Thompson in an attempt to nullify his influence early in the second term, but it proved a fruitless exercise as ‘Thommo’ continued to rack up the numbers. He had 28 possessions by the main break.
After three-quarter time, Thompson’s prolific performance became the focus of a game that was all-but decided, with a radio commentator even leaning out of his broadcast box with five minutes to go in an attempt to inform Thompson he had reached 49 possessions.
With less than two minutes remaining in the match, ‘Thommo’ brought up his half century and then added disposal No.51 with a deft handball out of a pack in the final minute of the game.
The now 300-game superstar is no stranger to statistical records. Thompson holds the mantle as the Crows’ No.1 player in disposals, clearances and tackles since 2005.
To this day, Thompson’s performance ranks as the fourth-biggest possession haul by a single player in AFL/VFL history and the second-most in the modern AFL competition.
No other Crow has amassed more than 44 possessions in a match.
August 20, 2011 – Round 22
ADELAIDE 9.4 10.7 11.11 18.17 (125)
GOLD COAST 2.2 5.7 8.8 9.10 (64)
GOALS: Walker 4, Tippett 4, Gunston 2, Mackay 2, Petrenko 2, Douglas, Sloane, van Berlo, Wright
BEST: Thompson, van Berlo, Jacobs, Tippett, Mackay, Walker, Johncock
ATTENDANCE: 16,168 at Metricon Stadium
Scott Thompson: 51 disposals, nine clearances, four inside 50ms, four tackles, four marks
