In his fourth season at the club, Dale Thomas has already racked up 85 senior games including 22 in 2009. It was a season which saw the Magpie spend more time in the midfield resulting in a career-high average in disposals with 17.2 (15.7 in 2008).
He enjoyed a strong patch of football from rounds 13 to 17 when he averaged 19 disposals and one goal per game.
A result of his added time in the midfield, Thomas was slightly down on his goal kicking this season. The utility went goalless in 12 matches this season compared to six in 2008. While not adding goals to his name, Thomas did increase his workload in front of goal averaging one goal assist per game.
2009 highlights
Round 15 v Western Bulldogs: Thomas kicked the match winning goal with 90 seconds left to hold on to an important victory for the club. The 22-year-old enjoyed a complete game with 17 disposals, five tackles, four goals contributed and four inside 50s.
Qualifying final v St Kilda: In what turned into a disappointing day for the club, Thomas was one of the better Magpies finishing the match with two goals. He was brilliant in the opening term, kicking his first career finals goal at the MCG while assisting in a passage of play which set up Leigh Brown for the side’s first of the match. Thomas’ courage was on display midway through the third term taking a strong mark inside the forward 50 which he kicked true for his second of the day.
Paul Hudson: Showed at times, particularly against Adelaide, that clubs don't have a match-up for him. He does have that X-factor that he can bob up and kick two or three goals. The challenge is to improve his aerobic fitness. He tends to blow up when he runs flat out.
2009 AFL statistics
| G | K | H | D | M | G | B | T | C |
| 22 | 9.7/64.8% | 7.5/79.4%% | 17.2/71.2% | 5.0 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 2.9 | 1.3 |
CTV
