AS SCOTT Thompson prepares to play his 300th game against Collingwood on Saturday night at Adelaide Oval, the veteran Adelaide midfielder says the dream of a premiership still drives him.
The 33-year-old has long been one of the best inside midfielders in the competition, even if he has not always received the recognition his ability deserved.
Adulation and accolades don't worry Thompson, though. Being able to overcome his winless record in preliminary finals is what matters.
Match preview: Adelaide v Collingwood
"Three losing prelims isn't a good track record, is it? You always have the hope of chasing an AFL Grand Final, which would be wonderful," Thompson said.
"Whether that happens or not is another story."
The Crows finished second after the home and away season in 2012 and fell agonisingly short of reaching the decider, falling to Hawthorn by just five points.
Thompson racked up 31 disposals in that contest.
He was traded from Melbourne at the end of 2004 and Adelaide would reach the penultimate weekend in Thompson's first two seasons at the club.
Both times the Crows fell to West Coast – by 16 points in 2005 and 10 points in 2006.
All of those Adelaide outfits were high quality teams and the current version is travelling well itself, having won seven straight games and sitting in third spot on the ladder.
Thompson was loath to make comparisons, though.
"I find it really hard to compare sides. Every year's different. Every year throws up different challenges," he said.
"It would be unfair to throw up any side as better than another, but ... as a club right now we sit in a pretty good position."
If the Crows are to improve upon the efforts of their predecessors this millennium, finishing in the upper echelons of the ladder is almost a necessity.
"You look at the track record – to give yourself every opportunity of winning a Grand Final, you pretty much need to finish in the top four," Thompson said.
"Right at this point in time, we sit third on the ladder, but the way that shapes come the end of the season is a long way off."
Thompson ponders opportunity lost after the 2006 preliminary final. Picture: AFL Media
