Border Mail |
FOOTBALL can be a funny game at the best of times and not many have found that out more this week than Jarrod Thompson.
This time 12 months ago, the Yarrawonga defender was on his way to Visy Park with the Hampden football league as they prepared to take on the Ovens and Murray in a battle for fourth spot on the interleague ranking table.
He didn’t know a lot about the opponent, but enough to realise he and his Hampden league mates were going to be up against it that afternoon.
And he wasn’t wrong.
Despite a hot start, the Hampden league never stood much chance against a hungry O and M squad filled with star players desperate to get the league charging back up the rankings.
Now, Thompson’s one of those players.
Thompson, who joined Yarrawonga over the summer, will line up for the O and M today on the same ground he copped an eight-goal hiding on last year.
“It’s a little bit strange, isn’t it, but it should be good,” Thompson said this week.
“I’m looking forward to it.
“I’ve always put my hand up for rep footy and making the squad was a bit of a goal of mine at the start of the year.
“So it was good to get the call-up.”
Thompson was earmarked in last year’s interleague edition of The Border Mail as one of the Hampden league’s players to watch and he didn’t disappoint.
Although, he did have his hands full minding some of the Ovens and Murray’s marquee forwards — including now teammate Brad O’Connor.
“We knew they’d be strong and skilful and quick and they were,” Thompson said.
“We pretty much had our work cut out from the start.
“Deep down I knew we’d have to play at our best to even get within a sniff.
“I know myself I’ve always really rated the Ovens and Murray as the best country league.
“It’s definitely at the top of the tree.”
Thompson, 27, is now a Yarrawonga local and has made a promising start to the season with the Pigeons.
It didn’t hurt his interest in joining the league, however Thompson said last year’s representative clash hiding had little impact on his decision to head north.
It was something that happened the following week, playing for South Warrnambool, that had more influence on his decision.
“The week after interleague I busted my face playing back home,” Thompson said.
“I got cleaned up going back with the flighty and busted my cheek, eye socket and all that.
“I got back and played the last two games but ended up fracturing my wrist.
“It was a bad year and that was what probably twisted my arm about coming up here.
“I wanted to have a crack at the best level I could because I started to realise you never really know how much longer you had left.”
And while his representative colours will change this afternoon, Thompson’s role won’t.
The burly defender will play a key role in stopping the Peninsula league from hitting the scoreboard.
“My role should be pretty similar,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
As they say, if you can’t beat them, join them.
