Rory Thompson

For the scientist and murder, see Rory Jack Thompson.

Rory Thompson (born 12 March 1991) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Gold Coast Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was one of the club's Zone Selections, and played in the Gold Coast's first season, in 2011.

Rory Thompson
Personal information
Full name	Rory Thompson
Date of birth	(1991-03-12) 12 March 1991 (age 34)
Place of birth	Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Original team(s)	Southport (QAFL)
Draft	Zone Selection, 2009, Gold Coast
Height	200 cm (6 ft 7 in)
Weight	91 kg (201 lb)
Position(s)	Defender
Playing career
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2011–2022	Gold Coast	106 (7)
Career highlights
22under22 team: 2013
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Junior football

Thompson is the son of Southport Sharks hall-of-famer and dual premiership player Brett Thompson.^[1] He originally played rugby league for the Parkwood Sharks before switching to his father's old club to begin junior football. Thompson attended Helensvale State High School during his junior football and upon graduation was signed by the Gold Coast Football Club to compete in the TAC Cup in 2009. Following Thompson's announcement of signing with the Gold Coast, it was revealed the Brisbane Lions had a strong interest in the local junior and intended to draft him at the 2008 AFL draft had he elected.^[2]

AFL career

Thompson was one of only four players from the Gold Coast region drafted into the inaugural Gold Coast Suns squad, the others being Marc Lock, Jack Stanlake and Joel Wilkinson.

Thompson made his AFL debut in Round 16 of the 2011 AFL season in a 70-point loss to the Sydney Swans at home.^[3][4]

After a breakout 2013 season, Thompson was selected at full-back in the AFL Players' inaugural 22under22 team.^[5]

In 2014, Thompson kept Sydney Swans full-forward Kurt Tippett goal-less in the Suns' 35-point loss in their round 12 match.^[6]

In November 2022, Thompson retired as the longest-serving player of the Gold Coast Suns, due to knee injuries.^[7]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of round 3, 2022^[8]

Legend

G	Goals	K	Kicks	D	Disposals	T	Tackles
B	Behinds	H	Handballs	M	Marks

Season	Team	No.	Games	Totals							Averages (per game)							Votes
				G	B	K	H	D	M	T	G	B	K	H	D	M	T
2011	Gold Coast	16	8	2	2	48	40	88	39	22	0.3	0.3	6.0	5.0	11.0	4.9	2.8	0
2012	Gold Coast	16	5	0	0	32	14	46	18	12	0.0	0.0	6.4	2.8	9.2	3.6	2.4	0
2013	Gold Coast	16	21	5	3	157	89	246	105	39	0.2	0.1	7.5	4.2	11.7	5.0	1.9	2
2014	Gold Coast	16	19	0	0	91	73	164	58	49	0.0	0.0	4.8	3.8	8.6	3.1	2.6	0
2015	Gold Coast	16	12	0	0	54	37	91	38	15	0.0	0.0	4.5	3.1	7.6	3.2	1.3	0
2016	Gold Coast	16	14	0	2	75	65	140	68	27	0.0	0.1	5.4	4.6	10.0	4.9	1.9	0
2017	Gold Coast	16	7	0	0	41	31	72	29	20	0.0	0.0	5.9	4.4	10.3	4.1	2.9	0
2018	Gold Coast	16	17	0	1	84	55	139	42	26	0.0	0.1	4.9	3.2	8.2	2.5	1.5	0
2019	Gold Coast	16	0	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
2020[a]	Gold Coast	16	0	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
2021	Gold Coast	16	0	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
2022	Gold Coast	16	0	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Career			103	7	8	582	404	986	397	210	0.1	0.1	5.7	3.9	9.6	3.9	2.0	2

Notes

1. The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.