Richmond recruit Matt Thomas reveals he could have gone to CarltonHerald-Sun
April 04, 2014 7:00PMRICHMOND “wrecking ball” Matt Thomas could have been a Carlton recruit, with the Blues one of four clubs to chase him last season.
Thomas has had a sensational start to his Tigers career after they recruited him 12 months after trying to lure him home in late 2012.
The 27-year-old will take on one of the star Western Bulldogs midfielders in Ryan Griffen or Tom Liberatore, after a best-afield performance against the Blues.
Thomas said the faith shown in him by coach Damien Hardwick and Tigers pro scout Blair Hartley got him to Punt Rd, but there were other suitors.
Thomas was delisted on a Monday in September, won the SANFL’s Magarey Medal the following day, and finally found his way to Richmond.
‘’I was delisted on the Monday and was obviously pretty disappointed because I had been at Port Adelaide so long, and then went to the Magarey Medal on the Tuesday with my fiancee Stacey and won. I was in disbelief. It was such an emotional roller-coaster I had been on.
“I was aware of Richmond’s interest. Blair had always shown interest and the season before they had asked if I would come over and Port wouldn’t let me go.
“There was a little bit of interest from Melbourne and Carlton and GWS. But none of it eventuated.
“My heart was with Richmond, given I was originally from Melbourne, and I was excited to be given the opportunity.”
The former Sandringham Dragon said the win over Carlton was everything he had hoped playing for a power club would be.
“I spoke to Chappy (Troy Chaplin) about it and he said you will get shivers up the back of your neck. Then the game was nice and close in the last quarter and you could really tell what it would be like to play in front of 80,000 fans.
“To sing the yellow and black in my first win was pretty awesome. I couldn’t see because I had Gatorade in my eyes and I had the taste of sugar all over me. It was a sweet victory in both senses.”
Hardwick has told him to keep his game simple, which he plans to do to keep his spot in the side.
“It’s just playing to your strengths,” Thomas said. “For me it’s contested footy and tackling and pressure. I leave the fancy kicks to guys like (Trent) Cotchin and (Dustin) Martin and the high marks to Jack (Riewoldt).
“The Dogs will give us a really fierce contest in the first quarter and they will try to get the lead early in the game, so we expect a really tough game.”
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-recruit-matt-thomas-reveals-he-could-have-gone-to-carlton/story-fndv8t7m-1226874941230
