Reigning Club Champion Scott Thompson saved his best performance of the year for Adelaide’s last game at AAMI Stadium.

Thompson amassed a season-high 33 possessions, nine clearances, seven marks, seven tackles, four inside 50ms and a goal against former team, Melbourne, on Saturday.

The 2012 All Australian ignited the Crows in the first half, collecting 22 disposals at an impressive 91 per cent efficiency – prompting the Demons to send young midfielder Jack Viney to Thompson after half-time. Coach Brenton Sanderson, who resisted calls for the 30-year-old to be ‘rested’ in the latter part of the year, said he was pleased to see Thompson star on the weekend.

“Thommo was back to his best today,” Sanderson said.

“He was brilliant in the first half and really set the game up for us.”

Thompson said he was “happy” with his first half, but was more focused on helping the Crows secure a win in their final match at AAMI Stadium.

“It’s a nice way to finish off at this oval,” Thompson said after the game.

“It was actually a great feeling late in the game. We were fortunate to have the scoreboard our way. Brenton touched on it before the game, (saying), ‘don’t get caught up in it, sitting there thinking how good is this, we’re in front in the last game at AAMI Stadium’.

“But I did sneak a moment there to take a look around and it was great to see the crowd enjoying themselves.”

Thompson qualifies as a Free Agent at the end of this season. Asked when he would put pen to paper on a new deal with the Crows, Thompson replied “soon” and said he still had ambitions to be a premiership player with the Club.

“Heading forward, the Club’s got great depth and when we get some key players back next season I think we’re still in a really good position to give it a nudge at that last week in September, which would be nice,” he said.

“We’ve had half-a-dozen young guys come in this year and show they can perform at the level. I’m not getting self-indulgent here, but I’m not getting any younger and I’d love to play in and win a Grand Final.

“I definitely think we’ve got the list to do that.”