Hoppers lock in playing coach

Thompson has been appointed to a two-year deal by the Central Highlands Football League club, which he will play for in 2017.

A defender who can run through the midfield, the 30-year-old was enticed to the Grasshoppers by a friendship with current player and former coach Jason Hutchins and with his work at nearby Mount Mercer Wind Farm.

“(Senior coaching) has been something I’ve wanted to do for ages and for them to give me the opportunity, it’s great,” Thompson said.

Thompson is a two-time Victoria Country division one representative and has played in senior premierships with South Warrnambool in 2006 and 2011 and Yarrawonga alongside former Carlton and Brisbane Lions star Brendan Fevola in 2013.

He is also a multiple interleague representative, having played for the Hampden and Ovens and Murray competitions.

Thompson, who joins the Grasshoppers after time with Bell Park and Torquay, said he would look to recruit to offer some experience to the young group at Rokewood-Corindhap.

The Grasshoppers won four games in former coach Mick Hynes’ last year at the helm to finish 14^th on the ladder.

Rokewood-Corindhap president Adam Walton said while Thompson had great football credentials, he was simply happy to have lured a “good bloke” to the club.

Walton said Thompson had a young family and possessed good country values.

“They’re the sort of people we’ve had at the club and want to keep at the club. We want good people around the club,” Walton said.

“The previous coach was a great fellow as well.”

Walton said Thompson’s Geelong connections would be beneficial in its bid to recruit talent to the club outside of the normal Ballarat-based avenues.

“It’s really good to have someone locked away to enable the recruiting to continue on and for him to have control over recruiting from now on in,” he said.

“I’m really upbeat and looking forward to it.”