Resolute Geelong VFL defender Scott Thompson could be the unlikely wildcard that the Cats’ premiership aspirations hinge upon.

Thompson won wide plaudits for his stunning performance in the Cats’ runaway 31-point victory over Coburg on Sunday, an outing coach Leigh Tudor described as “just outstanding”.

Amid a team lined with hundreds of matches of experience, standout leaders and talented fringe players, VFL-listed Thompson was considered one of the Cats’ best in what was their biggest arm wrestle of the season.

His second half was one of the most brilliant performances by a VFL-listed player this season, highlighted by the way he displayed tenacity and character when the match was precariously hanging in the balance.

His match stats – 22 disposals, 11 rebound 50’s and 11 ball gets – encapsulated how potent he was during a pulsating final quarter, setting up countless counterattacks for the Cats, while dousing the Tigers’ strong flame.

“I thought his second half was really good, he made a few blues early, so to have such a good second half shows that he was still courageous enough to attack the play, so it was a good result and his last quarter was outstanding,” Tudor said.

In what is his second year on the Cats’ VFL list, Thompson said the culture at the Cattery has harnessed his progression into one of the standout VFL players at the club.

“Last week’s match certainly gave me good confidence, but the AFL boys help you out so much, they talk and tell you what to do, and it’s really good knowing they’re around to support you,” he said.

“It was very good, it’s good to play well because it cements myself for next week and it’s good to get the first final out of the way. I was very pleased - the second half was very good, but the first half wasn’t.

Thompson, who plays for the South Barwon Swans in the Geelong Football League, was this week named on the bench in the GFL Team of the Year, despite missing seven of 16 GFL games through Geelong VFL commitments.

And while he is the pivotal piece of the jigsaw puzzle at the Swans, the 21–year-old has pledged his finals allegiance to the Cats’ VFL side, even though South Barwon is in line for a third successive GFL flag.

Thompson, who already boasts two GFL premierships, said a tilt at a VFL premiership at Geelong was an obvious progression up the ranks he wanted to make.

Thompson did not play throughout the Cats’ VFL finals campaign last year.

“It would be very good to hopefully play in a grand final here, I played in the last two grand finals for South Barwon, but the VFL is the next goal and it would be a great step up,” he said.

“Obviously the standard is higher, the skills are better and the bodies are stronger, so VFL finals footy is very competitive and I’m really enjoying it, which is good.”

Beyond this season, Thompson is keeping his future football horizons very broad.

SANFL club Central Districts tried unsuccessfully to lure him across this season, and he will undoubtedly attract similar attention when this season’s finals festivities come to an end later this month.

Asked whether he harbored any intentions of nominating for this year’s draft, Thompson said it was “something I’m thinking about and something I would like to do”.

His on-field exploits this season have captured the attention of not only the Geelong senior players, but also the senior coaching hierarchy, who are impressed with his rugged style and invasive accountability.

Tudor echoed those sentiments, saying the AFL-listed players embrace his presence on the field.

“He’s just been improving with every game he’s played with us, he uses the ball well and he attacks it really hard and the AFL players really love having him around,” he said.

“Depending on what injuries we have from the AFL boys, as soon as it’s a medium-tall, Thomo’s a player who can match up well with them, so he’s really taken his chances this year, which is really good.”