Former AFL star Nathan Thompson is helping put his old Kyneton club back on its feet. WHEN Nathan Thompson headed off to Hawthorn in late 1997, his home club Kyneton was the powerhouse of the Bendigo league. Under the guidance of superstar midfielder Derrick Filo, the Tigers had won two premierships from three consecutive grand final appearances between 1995 and '97.

But by the time Thompson returned to play four games last season, Kyneton was the league's whipping boy. Despite the guest appearances from one of the club's favourite sons, who played almost 200 AFL games with the Hawks and North Melbourne, the Tigers' senior side ended its 2011 campaign without a win. ''It was when I went back to have a kick last year that I realised exactly where the place was at,'' Thompson says. ''I thought that the club was going to die.''

Given his burgeoning profile as a public speaker and media performer, Thompson could easily have turned his back on Kyneton. But his attachment to the club is far too strong for that to be an option. So the 34-year-old decided to take on the role as playing co-coach, working alongside Filo, who had returned to the Tigers for last season.

When he rocked up to oversee his first pre-season training session late last year, the challenge ahead of him and his many helpers was immense. Kyneton's senior team's average losing margin last year had been 127 points.

The Tigers' problems ran deep off the field as well, with a large debt threatening to sink the club. ''We had to slash our budget and start from scratch,'' Thompson said.

Fast-forward eight months and Kyneton remains near the bottom of the ladder, yet there are signs a genuine revival is under way. The key on-field breakthrough came in late June when the Tigers, led by six goals from their coach, beat Castlemaine by 13 points and ended their 30-game losing streak.

By Adam McNicol

Article first appeared The Sunday Age August 5, 2012