Since the inception of the A League it is hard to find a player of more value to his team as a marquee player than Archie Thompson for Melbourne Victory.
Those that were questioning his ability to play at his best level again, a level we have not seen since his knee reconstruction sustained in the 2010 final against Sydney FC two seasons ago have been forced to think again.
Archie was brilliant against Wellington Phoenix two weeks ago with a superb goal to finally break the goal drought for his team that was threatening to become a huge burden for his coach Mehmet Durakovic and his team. And if that didn’t announce his comeback as a damaging striker, last week’s match against champions Brisbane Roar did. His brace of goals single handily kept Victory in the game after falling down to nine men in the first half, with red cards to goalkeeper Ante Kovic and Matthew Foschini.
The second goal was simply world class. The combination of Kewell to Thompson for the goal sent the Victory fans into ecstasy. Thompson had plenty of work to do when Kewell brilliantly dispossessed the forward surging Roar player in transition and slipped a 20 yard ball into Thompson’s path in a classic counter attacking move.
Thompson, running at full pace towards the box, had two defenders blocking his path yet with guile, sharpness and pace he managed to turn the defender and the goal keeper inside out, opening the chance for him to smash the ball into the net with his left foot.
Kewell was first to reach him on the celebration run and you could see the man many were saying is the star of this town was paying homage to a player and a goal that he would be proud to place in his own highlights reel.
Champion players have a way of coming back and the old saying that ‘form is temporary but class is permanent’ relates to Victory’s Archie Thompson.
At 33-years-of-age with a game based on pace and mobility many were starting to wonder if father time had caught up with the Victory star.
He has entertained like few others and has been the talisman for this team in both their championships alongside Kevin Muscat. His five goals against Adelaide United in the 2007 final earned him the Joe Marston medal as the best player in the Grand Final.
Archie has had a very satisfying career, having represented his country 34 times, played in Europe with four successful years in Belgium and his 116 games for Melbourne Victory as their marquee player have been the highlights of a superb football CV.
The jovial character who loves a joke off the park masks a very proud football player who is desperate to climb the mountain again with his club as father time creeps up on him.
His relationship with superstar Harry Kewell on and off the park is a positive for Victory as they have known each other as juniors in NSW.
There is no doubt Melbourne Victory need a fit and firing Archie Thompson if they are hoping to trouble teams in the finals this year.
The preseason may have been Harry Kewell’s show but when it comes to football matters on the pitch, the last two weeks have shown his mate Archie Thompson still is the man at Victory.
If Durakovic can find the balance between all his attacking players in mid field and attack, then goals will be flowing again for the famous navy blues.
But one name that will be demanding a place up front is indeed Archibald Gerald Thompson. Well done Archie, we salute you.