Clayton Thompson

Clayton Crieve 'Candles' Thompson (11 December 1929 – 28 June 2010)^[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played for Hawthorn in the VFL during the 1950s and had a noted career with Sturt.

Clayton Thompson
Personal information
Full name	Clayton Crieve Thompson
Nickname(s)	Candles
Date of birth	11 December 1929
Date of death	28 June 2010(2010-06-28) (aged 80)
Height	198 cm (6 ft 6 in)
Weight	89 kg (196 lb)
Position(s)	Ruckman / Forward
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1948–53, 1957–61	Sturt	151 (236)
1954–56	Hawthorn	050 0(54)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1961.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Thompson was one of the giants of his era, standing at 198 cm and could play both forward or as a ruckman. He started out at Sturt in 1948 and played with the South Australian club before being recruited to Hawthorn for the 1954 season. Thompson spent three seasons with Hawthorn where he was used mostly as a forward and kicked 24 goals in both of his first two seasons. After his stint was over he returned to Sturt where, as a ruckman, he finished second in the 1959 Magarey Medal to his teammate Len Fitzgerald. He was Sturt's best and fairest winner twice and topped their goalkicking on three occasions.

An All-Australian and top goalkicker at the 1953 Adelaide Carnival, Thompson played a total of 11 interstate games with South Australia for 25 goals.

In 2005 Thompson was inducted into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame.