FOR the first time since mid-2017, Leopold will go into a GFL match without either Marcus or Jai Thompson.
Both will miss Saturday night’s blockbuster clash with reigning premier St Mary’s due to injury.
Marcus is nursing a broken hand, while Jai is yet to decide whether he will play through a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
The last time the brothers were missing from the Lions’ line-up was Round 14, 2017.
Leopold coach Jason Tom revealed Marcus broke his hand in the club’s final practice match against Melton.
“It was one of the first contests against Melton, and he felt something in his hand,” Tom said.
“He wasn’t sure what he’d done, but in true Thompson fashion, he played until the third quarter when he said, ” it’s getting pretty sore.
“He had scans, and he’s got a break in there. He’s in a splint at the moment; he’s not sure about surgery.
“He’s getting a couple of different opinions there, but he’s a got a comeback plan, and we’re looking at 4-6 weeks, maybe.”
Jai suffered his knee injury during the club’s non-contact AFLX competition before Christmas but didn’t have scans confirming the rupture until the new year.
“He got some positive news around the structure of the knee; that it was in pretty good nick,” Tom said. “He’s been training pretty hard doing his own program for the best part of 6-7 weeks.
“Again, as a Thompson, he’s that determined, and with the work that he’s done, he actually looks a million bucks.
“In terms of whether he can play, that’s something we’ve left to Jai.
“He’s working pretty hard with our medico, our physio, our strength-and-conditioning coach.”
The Thompsons are among six players unavailable, with forward duo Lucas Boyd (ankle) and Mitch Patten (hamstring), youngster Riley Hayden (corkie) also sidelined, and Tom Scott on the comeback trail from groin issues.
However, the Lions will unveil six first-gamers, including Geelong VFL listed duo Liam Herbert and Mitch Burgess, 2020 recruits James Cleaver and Tom Feeley, former Bannockburn star Kieran Fulton, and junior product Logan Hockley.
Hockley is the son of the current president and former captain Richard and grandson of Leopold and BFL legend Les Ash.
“We’ve got a side that we think will give it a good crack on Saturday night,” Tom said.
Twitter: @tom_king79
