Thorp rises above the rest

BECOMING a playing-coach has elevated Mitch Thorp to the form of his career.

The South Launceston star was yesterday awarded the RACT Player of the Year award as the runaway winner.

It is just another chapter in his remarkable season that has seen Thorp lead the Bulldogs to the minor premiership and flag favouritism, finish second on the goal kicking and earn an invite to the AFL state screening in Melbourne en route to a possible return to the AFL. Not bad for a 24-year-old in just his second year of coaching.

“I have no doubt it has brought out the best in me,” Thorp said yesterday.

“The best way I can coach on game day is play well, there is no doubt about that.

“If I lead by example, the players understand what is required.

“That’s probably something I tweaked from last year to this year.

“Last year I was thinking a lot about the game I was playing in rather than just focusing on my game.”

Even through the off-field drama over South Launceston’s future and the move to a new entity, Thorp and his side have remained steely focused for the Dogs’ first state league finals campaign.

While the 194cm, 94kg key forward admits AFL clubs have been in contact, nothing can impact on his flag tunnel vision.

“If there is a club that wants a certain player like me, I’ll keep playing the way I am and hopefully they will choose me, but if not I really want to stay in football and I enjoy coaching.

“I can see that as the future for me.

“There are changes in Tassie footy, but once everybody gets their head around it it will be really positive and hopefully going forward people will be a bit more positive about the state league. I know I certainly wouldn’t have come back and played in Tasmania at all if it wasn’t for the state league.

“I really am driven and focused on trying to win this state league premiership for a whole range of reasons.

“It is a very exciting time for me as a person and as a playing-coach that we get this opportunity.”

Thorp will marry his partner Kyla in November and plans to use the $5000 worth of RACT cash to travel on a honeymoon.

He dominated the competition with votes in 11 of 18 games, including 10 best afield performances.

He finished with double the votes of his nearest rival, Launceston goal-kicker and this year’s Hudson Medallist Sonny Whiting.

ROUND 18 VOTES

North Launceston v Launceston

3. Josh Woolley (Lton)

2. Jake Kolodjashnij (Lton)

1. Toby Nankervis (NL)

South Launceston v Burnie

3. Mitchell Thorp (SL)

2. Beau Thorp (SL)

1. Jay Blackberry (SL)

Devonport v North Hobart

3. Caden Wilson (NH)

2. Joe Arnold (NH)

1. Alexander Lee (D)

Clarence v Lauderdale

3. Matthew Smith (Ldale)

2. Sean MacKay (Ldale)

1. Jeromey Webberley (C)

Hobart v Glenorchy

3. James Charlesworth (H)

2. Nathan Matthews (G)

1. Matthew Dilger (G)

LEADERBOARD

32 – Mitchell Thorp (SL)

16 – Sonny Whiting (Lton)

15 – Kade Munday (B)

14 – Darren Banham (B), Cameron Thurley (C)

12 – Jason Laycock (B), Rhys Mott (G), Kaine Waller (Ldale)

11 – Ben Reynolds (G), Jaye Bowden (G)