PORT Adelaide tough nut Matt Thomas says he won’t rely on physical intimidation to make his presence felt on the field this season, not even against Adelaide in Showdown XXVIII on Saturday afternoon.

During the course of his short career Thomas has forged a name for himself as a hard-nosed onballer with a propensity for delivering big hits and bone-jarring tackles.

In round 21, 2006, playing in his first-ever Showdown the 23-year-old famously laid the tackle that caused Crows forward Trent Hentschel’s knee to buckle underneath him.
 
Two years later, in the bruising battle of Showdown XXIV, Adelaide defender Nathan Bassett was knocked out in another legal tackle from Thomas, but the former Sandringham junior said the injury-hit Crows would have no extra cause for concern this week.

“The game is so quick and you’re so fatigued you’re not even thinking too much - you're just playing on instinct a little bit, so if anything I’m not worrying too much about all that kind of [physical] stuff,” Thomas said.

“I’m just worried about playing footy and I’m not trying to have an influence in the ways that I might have in the past.”

Thomas’ uncompromising attack on the ball and the man has attracted the attention of the umpires.

He has been suspended three times in his 34-game career, including a one-match ban for accidentally making contact with an umpire in round five last season.

Thomas has since worked closely with new assistant coach Dean Laidley over the summer in a bid to temper his approach to the contest.

“I like to go pretty hard at the man and Dean’s taught me just to take a few more steps so I can make sure it’s a controlled tackle and that I don’t give away too many free kicks,” Thomas said.

“In the past I might’ve given away a few free kicks just from being overzealous with the tackle, so he’s helped me tone that down a bit.”

Thomas was entrusted with the job of shutting down veteran onballer Lenny Hayes in Port Adelaide’s win over St Kilda last weekend.

The former Sandringham junior kept Hayes to a modest 23 possessions, while gathering 22 possessions (10 contested) and five clearances of his own.

Thomas has been ravaged by injury since joining the Power with pick No.8 in the 2006 NAB AFL Pre-season Draft.

He came within hours of dying after suffering a burst appendix in 2007 and his comeback from the life-threatening ordeal has been littered with knee, ankle and foot injuries.

Thomas will equal his career-best return of six straight AFL games when he lines up for the Power on Saturday and said it was important he stayed fit and in the side this season.

“I had a good year in my first year at the club, but the next two were injury-stricken and it really took its toll on my body. It wasn’t even so much about my performance because I thought the games that I played were okay. It was more about getting up for the game each week having had all those kinds of injuries,” Thomas said.

“Last year was a really good year for me and I think it was a stepping-stone even though I missed six games with a knee injury.

"This year is definitely my most important year and if I can string a few games together I’m sure my footy will take care of itself.”