Andrew Thompson

Who is Andrew Thompson?

Andrew Charles Thompson is a retired Australian rules footballer for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League.

Thompson was recruited in the 1996 AFL Draft at pick no 62 and was picked up from the VAFA club Old Melburnians. At the time of his recruitment Thompson was 24 years of age, relatively old for an AFL footballer to begin his career. Thompson later said that being recruited at a late age allowed him to become more travelled and worldly than other footballers who begin their careers at 17 or 18 years of age.

Thompson quickly established himself in the St Kilda line-up in 1997, missing only two games and playing every game from Round 4 onwards, including St Kilda's loss in the Grand Final.

Thompson played in 20 of 22 matches in the 1997 AFL Premiership Season home and away rounds in which St Kilda Football Club qualified in first position for the 1997 AFL Finals Series, winning the club's 2nd Minor Premiership and 1st McClelland Trophy.

Thompson was noted for his hard work ethic and consistency and this led to him winning the 1999 Channel 7 Player of the Year Award.