Blog: What Matt Thompson Represents...

FAN opinion is divided regarding ‘Super' Matty Thompson’s predicted departure from Newcastle Jets south to Tullamarine Airport and Melbourne Heart.

And while I don't wish to weigh into whether it's time Thommo moved on or not, I think it's more important to think about the ramifications of a player like Thompson leaving his inaugural A-League club.

I recently sat down with Tarek Elrich and having asked the defender who has been critical to his career thus far, off  his tongue came Thompson's name almost instantaneously.

Elrich elaborated, noting Thompson had treated him like a "little brother" since day dot at the still fledgling franchise.

With this in mind, I reckon it's far to say Thompson is held in a similar regard by Jets players across the board. By the Adam D'Apuzzos, the Jason Hoffmans, the Ben Kennedys, the Ben Kantarovskis.

And having been a mainstay in the Jets line-up since the opening fixture against Adelaide and becoming the first player to etch his name into the Jets 100-club, it's with reason Thompson is so widely respected.

Yeah, he's no Nicky Carle or Joel Griffiths, nor does he represent the long term potential of a Mark Milligan, but he's the type of player that undeniably represents A-League standard.

An ever present, Thompson rarely stands out, but he rarely fails to prosper in the job he's put out on the pitch to perform.

So what's losing a player like this mean to a club? Plenty.

At the senior clubs I've played at, the men who I've had the most time for and wanted to learn from are the ones who have worn the shirt through thick and thin, triumph and tragedy.

When a player like Thompson leaves, so does a figure that can help mould the dedicated, workman-like professionals every side in the world undeniably requires.

It's these gritty characters who embody the traits and culture a club should represent who are arguably more important than the glitz and glamour of a marquee - their longevity in a solitary shirt being the key element as to why they're adored.

Like Travis Dodd departing Adelaide, or Matt McKay bouncing from Brisbane, the probable loss of Thompson will see Newcastle Jets having to wait at least another few years for a club leader to emerge.