Former Collingwood star Dale Thomas has revealed he was offered a mega deal from the GWS Giants while he was still at the Pies.
The 258-gamer won a premiership with Collingwood back in 2010, to then, just a year or two later, be offered a whooping $6 million deal for six years at the Giants.
The offer came around the Giants’ inception into the AFL, with their first season scheduled for 2012.
Despite the extremely tempting money, the goal sneak turned his back, and stuck with the Pies for another few seasons.
But passing on the offer wasn’t that easy at the time.
Thomas was a 2010 premiership player. Getty
“Did we discuss ever that they (GWS Giants) offered me a million dollars a year for six years?,” Thomas revealed on Triple M’s Marty Sheargold Show.
“This would have been 2011, or 2012.”
It took some coversations with former Pies teammates Heath Shaw about how life could look up in NSW.
“Heath Shaw and I were sitting there, and we were contemplating what to do,” he said.
Thomas and Shaw were mates at the Pies. Getty
“We were googling what it would cost for a chopper from Bondi to GWS every day.”
His reason for sticking fat with Collingwood was simple.
“At the time, it was all around that … Collingwood are going to continue to win premierships and be competitive,” Thomas said.
“At that point all I really knew was winning and I’m not a great loser.
He finished his career at Carlton. via Getty Images
“So, it was always going to be a tough journey starting out with the GWS Giants. So, I weighed up all those things, leaving family, and passed on the offer.”
Thomas did eventually depart Collingwood after 157 games at the end of 2013, before joining rivals Carlton the following season.
He played 101 games between 2014 and 2019 in the navy blue, before officially hanging up the boots.
He was also selected in the All-Australian side in 2011.
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