Playing Career
Thomas began his career at the St Kilda Football Club in the VFL, debuting in 1978. He took a long time to break into the side as a regular senior player, but settled in as a centre half-back. He played 72 games for the Saints between 1978 and 1983 before briefly moving to North Melbourne in 1984, and finishing his career at Fitzroy in 1985. In just his second game of VFL football, Thomas took a magnificent mark where he climbed the behind post before clutching the ball with one hand. This led to him being nicknamed 'The Fireman' for the remainder of his career.
Following his retirement from the VFL at the end of 1985, in 1986 he moved to become the playing coach of Warrnambool in the Hampden Football League. He won four premierships with the club in just five seasons until 1990.
Read more about this topic: Grant Thomas (footballer)
Famous quotes containing the words playing and/or career:
“And there were present
the Picninnies,
and the Jobillies,
and the Garyulies,
and the great Panjandrum himself,
with the little round button at top;
and they all fell to playing the game
of catch-as-catch-can,
till the gunpowder ran out at the heels of their boots.”
—Samuel Foote (1720–1777)
“I’ve been in the twilight of my career longer than most people have had their career.”
—Martina Navratilova (b. 1956)