Rory Thompson Biography

After 106 games for Gold Coast, Rory Thompson announces his retirement after struggling with injuries to his knees.

"To see the progression of the club to what we have now is amazing," Thompson said of the Suns.

"I've formed so many great relationships, and I'm just super privileged to be a part of it."

Gold Coast select Rory Thompson with pick No.1 in the 2021 Pre-Season Draft.

Rory Thompson suffers a partial tear to his right ACL, the opposite knee to the one he fully ruptured in February of 2019.

"He's obviously disappointed and frustrated but once he gets a clear indication of what the path is forward, he'll be able to put all his energy into that and we'll make sure we support him with that journey," Suns football manager Jon Haines said.

Rory Thompson will play for the first time in almost two years when he steps out for Gold Coast's reserves side against Geelong at Carrara.

"Rory's very keen to get out there as we know, and we also think the quicker we can get Rory up to AFL speed, the better side we'll become," Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew said.

"We're very excited, we'll be keen watchers tomorrow when he plays in the reserves game. He hasn't had the best of luck across the journey, but what he does do is keep backing up and putting the work in."

Rory Thompson is on the verge of returning to full training as he recovers from a ruptured ACL, sustained less than three weeks before the start of the 2019 season.

"We're entering an important phase for him now. The first week of February, all things being equal, and he checks off the milestones, he can join into full training," Suns football manager Jon Haines said.

Rory Thompson signs a new four-year deal with Gold Coast to remain at the club until the end of 2023.

"Having grown up 10 minutes away from Metricon Stadium, it's a great privilege to be able to represent my home city, playing the game I love, on a national stage, it's something I never thought would be possible when I first started playing AFL," Thompson said.

"I'm grateful for the opportunities the club have provided me, and I want to do everything I can behind the scenes to help drive us forward."

Rory Thompson ruptures his anterior cruciate ligament during training and will miss the entire 2019 season.

"It’s unfortunate for Rory, as he’d put together a really strong pre-season," Suns general manager of football operation Jon Haines said.

"Rory is a much-loved member of our playing group. As an entire club, we’ll make sure we get behind Rory to help him get through the next 12 months."

Rory Thompson will become the first Gold Coast product to play 100 AFL games when he takes the field for the Suns against North Melbourne this week at Etihad Stadium.

"It's a unique opportunity being the first Gold Coaster to reach 100 games for the Sun. I'm pretty proud of that," Thompson said.

"It's taken me a lot longer than other people, I've had a few setbacks along the way, but I've loved every minute of it.

"I've been here a fair while now and ideally without injuries it would have been great to notch it up earlier, but I'm glad the club's given me the opportunity."

Rival clubs have expressed interest in Gold Coast's Rory Thompson, but the contracted key defender is unlikely to be traded, according to his manager Liam Pickering.

"Rory is contracted for two more seasons. There are always clubs that ask about him – he's a 200cm, mobile full-back, there are not many of them around – so that's obviously been discussed at times, but to me it's unlikely that he'll be at another club given his contract status," Pickering said.

Rory Thompson is ruled out for the next two weeks with a quad injury.

"He got some quad tightness last Thursday before the game, so we didn't play him. We didn't want to risk him. He'll probably miss the next two weeks," Suns football manager Marcus Ashcroft said.

"Once we get past that point, we'll assess him from week to week."

Rory Thompson signs a two-year contract extension to see him remain with the Suns until the end of 2019.

"I was born and bred here and looking forward to knowing I'm going to be here for a few more years," Thompson said.

"I love the lifestyle here. I'm into my surfing, fishing, golf and all that sort of stuff out in the sun and I'm very excited where the club's at as well. The future's looking pretty bright up here and I think it was a good time to re-sign."

Steven May says having Gold Coast teammate Rory Thompson in the side makes them a much better team.

In Thompson's nine games this season, the Suns have won six. In his absence, they are 0-8.

"Rory is like a big safety net," May said.

"He's covering the back 50, so it gives me a chance to roll off and take some intercept marks and have that bit of confidence to go up the ground to get the footy.

"I know if we turn it over we're going to have the big fella back there to stem the flow a bit.

"His ability to hold down a key spot and put away one of their dangerous forwards is big."

Rory Thompson will miss at least two weeks with an ankle injury sustained in the third quarter of the Suns' win against Carlton.

Gold Coast re-signs defender Rory Thompson for two years.

"As a Gold Coaster I am really pleased to extend my contract with the club," Thompson said.

"The club, team and the game has grown so much since I’ve been involved with the Suns, and I am looking forward to playing my role as we continue to build a strong club."

Rory Thompson faces a month off full training after injuring his big toe on Monday.

The Suns said on their club website that Thompson had suffered a 'turf toe' injury in a marking contest with fellow defender Henry Schade at training, and would be in a moon boot for a week.

With the Suns struggling for ruckman, fullback Rory Thompson found himself being Gold Coast's number one ruckman against GWS.

"As the day went on, I started remembering back to the old junior days of playing ruck and what to do," Thompson said.

"Hopefully we'll get our talls back on the track and I can settle myself back in defence for the rest of the season. I'll be on their backs making sure they do all their recovery this week."

Rory Thompson is in doubt for round one after illness further set back an already disrupted pre-season.

Thompson suffered a bout of gastro at the weekend that has limited his training during the week and left a big question mark over his availability for Sunday's final practice match against Collingwood.

"For round one versus the other 21 games, I'd prefer him right for the other 21 games if it means we have to extend his pre-season because he's not quite right," Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna said.

"I'm not saying it puts a line through him for round one, but then we just have to assess where his body's at and the conditioning."

Rory Thompson is slowly being nursed back to full fitness and will be ready for Gold Coast's round one match against Richmond on March 15.

"It was definitely getting frustrating being out, but I'm back in the main group and doing the sessions now," Thompson said.

"Coming back from surgery like I've had, you'll always get niggles in the rest of the body as you get back into the full load, so it's just managing those little things and seeing how I progress."

Gary Ablett has kept his perfect record intact, being named as the Gold Coast Suns' club champion for the third straight year.

The star midfielder polled 260 votes to win from Dion Prestia (213) and Jaeger O'Meara (204) in front of a sold-out crowd at the Sharks Event Centre on the Gold Coast.

Queenslanders Rory Thompson (162) and Jarrod Harbrow (149) rounded out the top five.

Rory Thompson is carried from Cazalys Stadium on a stretcher after a heavy collision with Richmond midfielder Matthew Arnot and taken to hospital for scans.

"I think it's his shoulder or his chest, so we'll just wait on the scans," Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna said.

"He's gone to hospital and he walked to the car. I think that's a good thing.

"He's had a super season. At his age and with his experience as a backman, he's stood up under some fierce weight of numbers."

The Suns woes down back have continued, losing Rory Thompson for the rest of the year following ankle surgery.

"It is extremely disappointing for Rory," Suns general manager of football operations Marcus Ashcroft said.

"We saw in the second half of last year what he is capable of, and on the back of an injury interrupted start to the season we were hopeful Rory would finish off the season strongly."

Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett explains his on-field exchange with Rory Thompson during the Suns' match against Port Adelaide.

"I didn't think there was an issue at all. Rory couldn't even remember the incident after the game but the media have run with it and made it into a big thing. I moved on pretty quickly," Ablett said.

"I didn't think the body language was great and I wanted to spark the boys up and I felt if we could win that centre bounce and get it forward, it might help the boys out and get a bit of confidence going again - that's all it was."

Rory Thompson makes his AFL debut for Gold Coast with 16 disposals (11 kicks and 5 handballs), 7 marks and 4 tackles in a 70-point loss to Sydney.