FAREWELL TO CLOCK and DOS
Andrew Thomson
Club historian Kev Kluver fare-welled two of the club's popular players in Matt "Clock" Thompson and Hayden "Dos" Thick at the club's Presentation Night last Saturday night.
Clock has just completed his medicine studies and will graduate in December as Dr Thompson and has decided to do his internship in Canberra where his girlfriend Jen works for the Department of Health.
He played for Sherwood Juniors from 1999-2002 then moved to Victoria but returned in 2006 and immediately rejoined the Black and Whites, playing in the Reserves 2006 premiership.
The goal-sneak graduated to Seniors and played in the club's 2008 and 2012 First grade premierships. He played his 100th senior match for the club this season.
In 2009 he was the QAFL Reserve Grade leading goal kicker and has always been a favourite of the crowd at Chelmer. Apparently he has caused several coaches to go grey a bit quicker than otherwise would be the case as he has a penchant for arguing the toss at times with both opponents and teammates alike.
Hayden Thick joined the club from Bundaberg in 2009 when the club's then General Manager Anthony McDonald lured him to Chelmer as he came to Brisbane to study Law at UQ (McDonald had been the AFL's manager in the Bundaberg region before joining the Pies).
He had a baptism of fire as the Magpies struggled in 2009-10 when promoted to the QAFL . The tall youngster was asked to play at fullback and acquitted himself well on some of the best and toughest full forwards in the League.
He was also a valuable ruckman when asked and his leap and palming ability were a highlight of his game.
He is fondly remembered for his demolition job on PBC's dangerous full forward Bryce Berry-Bolt in the 2012 Premiership, keeping him to just 1 goal and leading the brilliant Magpie defence in that Grand Final victory.
Hayden has graduated with a Law degree and he his girlfriend have decided to travel and will spend 2 years in Canada and the USA, doing some work on the snowfields in Canada --and plenty of skiing!! -- and also tripping across to Europe.
Both players will be sorely missed but the club wishes them all the best and both will be always welcome back at the Nest.