It’s fitting that of all weeks, Scott Thompson is out for redemption in the lead up to Easter and specifically North’s historic Good Friday game versus the Bulldogs.
The veteran defender told NMFC.com.au that he’s not only out to regain his spot in the side after a one week suspension for elbowing Patrick Dangerfield, but he’s also looking to earn back some respect.
“I’ve left the incident behind now and am fully focused on regaining my spot in the side,” he said.
“I hope that comes this week for what’s going to be a massive occasion. You get jealous when you’re not playing, watching everyone else playing. You just want to get back out there and give it your all and gain some respect back from your teammates.
“Hopefully I can come back in, it’s going to be huge for the club and the AFL.”
When Thompson landed awkwardly on Dangerfield’s face with his forearm, he knew he’d made a terrible mistake.
“It was very disappointing and I had a lapse with respect to a split-second decision. Over my ten years, I’ve missed a week due to a build-up of points three or four years ago for some misdemeanours, but this was the first time I’d been suspended for one particular incident,” Thompson said.
“It was the wrong decision. When it’s in super-slow-motion it looks like I had 15 seconds to decide but that wasn’t the case obviously. It was a split-second thing and I made the wrong decision and I paid for it and the team paid for it. I knew it straight away and I had to cop the consequences. You make thousands of split-second decisions each game and hopefully I get most right – just not on this occasion.”
While Thompson's accolades and achievements are long and distinguished, he knows that doesn’t give him any right to waltz straight back in to the senior side.
“Definitely not. When you miss a game, you leave yourself vulnerable. If everyone plays well and your direct replacement plays well, they deserve the right to stay in the team. You have to fight for your spot every week and it’s never a given, any time.”
This week’s blockbuster gives Thompson even more incentive to play.
“It's the first time AFL has been played on Good Friday and hopefully it works well and we can keep it for the long term. It should fit in nicely with the Good Friday Appeal and I know all the boys would consider it an honour to play in that game and give something back to the kids at the same time.”
