He followed his brother, Nick, to the Bears and worked his way up through the junior ranks to play a starring role as an 18-year-old in his rookie year of first grade.

"My brother used to play at Weston and I loved Weston. That was my club that I wanted to play at forever. I used to love watching Nathan Morris and Carl (Thornton) when he was at Weston - that's who I looked up to from an NPL perspective," Thompson said.

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But when he and fellow Bears young gun Zach Thomas asked for extra time to consider contract offers they were given their marching orders two-thirds into the 2017 season.

"We hadn't agreed to sign on in round 16. We didn't say were were leaving or anything. We just said we are not going to sign on yet, we wanted to see what the offers were on the table and they said 'righto, you're gone'," Thompson said recalling his departure from his beloved Bears.

Thompson was axed along with his brother Nick, Thomas and club captain Greg Anderson.

Thompson and Thomas found their way to Maitland and at the start of their fifth season as Magpies, Thompson is now joint club-captain with Braedyn Crowley and the 2021 NPL Players Player and Thomas is one of the competition's most respected and dynamic defenders.

"It feels like we've never been at any other club than Maitland now," Thompson said.

"It's a very, very welcoming club and I would love to give a shout out to Paul Osland for that.

"He has done a lot for the club, I know he has stepped down from the executive but he is always there.

"It's hard to imagine playing anywhere else to be honest."

Thompson said being named captain was a great honour and one he relished taking on jointly with 2020 NPL Golden Boot winner Crowley who is back at the Magpies after a year in Victoria.

"To be honest last year with Carl (Thornton) I was a presence as a leader on the field as well. Carl led by example and I was the one who was doing a lot more talking," Thompson said.

"It is a good feeling for the club and (coach Mick Bolch) Bolchy to recognise that I have grown and matured as a player and a person. To be a leader that other players can look to when we need someone or just some inspiration.

"It's really good to have Crowley there as well. He is that player who you know when you're struggling they will be there to lift you and the other players if you are having an off game."

Thompson and Crowley's partnership up front blossomed into one of the most damaging front third combinations in the competition during the 2020 season.

"It feels like it has just picked up where we left off. Crowls as soon as he got back, we clicked again. The more we train together, the more we play together I think the better we will get," Thompson said.

Now as a leader and experienced player himself, Thompson is looking forward to working with young players such as Ty Cousins, Charles Cox and Lachie Webb and believed with quality recruits such as the versatile Joel Clissold and accomplished defender Will McFarlane the club can push for the premiers and champions trophy double.

"Our quick ball movement will break down teams. The speed with which we move the ball most teams can't keep up with that," he said. "I can understand a lot of teams are going to sit behind the ball against us but I know in myself I wouldn't enjoy playing that style of football week in week out."

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