But the 189 in between will make sure the former Bulldogs premiership captain, four-time best and fairest winner and Ovens and Murray representative is remembered as one of the club’s greats.

Thompson announced his retirement in the rooms following Saturday’s 87-point loss to ladder leader Albury, after persistent knee problems finally got the better of him.

“I have heard people say before that they knew when it was time and I guess I knew it was time after last weekend’s game at Myrtleford,” Thompson said.

“I realised I didn’t have the push off and leg speed you need to get a kick at this level any more.

“I’m really comfortable with the decision.

“I have had a great look at it.

“A lot of blokes haven’t been as lucky as me with injuries and, apart from this year, I don’t think I missed more than two games in a season.”

Thompson, 33, had knee surgery to repair cartilage damage after playing the first five rounds of the season but struggled in his return match at Myrtleford and was hampered again against Albury at the weekend.

His decision coincided with Bulldogs coach Jarrod Twitt’s decision to step down at the end of the year.

“I think I played my first game back in 1993 against Lavington as a 16-year-old so you have got to be happy with that,” he said.

“It would have been good to make 200 matches and go out on a high, but it doesn’t always work out that way and I consider myself to have been fairly lucky.

“There have been a lot of good times along the way.”

Indeed.

Holding the premiership trophy aloft with Wodonga coach and his former school teacher Richard Bence after the Bulldogs’ 2004 grand final win against North Albury stands supreme.

Pulling on an Ovens and Murray jumper over a six-year period, playing under coaches Ernest Whitehead, Darren Denneman, Bence and Twitt and winning best and fairests in 1998, 1999, 2002 and 2003 were other highlights over a 16-year career that also saw him play 87 matches at Old Ivanhoe.

“Playing next to Keith Ainsworth and Steve Murphy was amazing, Damian Condon was one of the best and there were so many other good ones along the way as well,” he said.

“It’s pretty hard to name the best to be honest.

“There have been heaps of good ones.”

The toughest opponent isn’t as difficult with Wangaratta Rovers legend Robbie Walker the obvious choice ahead of North Albury captain Daniel Leslie.

“Darren Denneman got me to tag Robbie Walker one day in the midfield and I cramped up midway through the third quarter,” he said.

“He was unbelievable.

“It was good playing on those sort of players and that’s one of the reasons why I really enjoyed inter-league footy.”