Gary Ablett might be the best player in the competition, but Rory Thompson’s amazing growth as the team’s premier defender may have seen the fiery Gold Coaster surpass his captain as the Gold Coast SUNS most important player.

A constant threat at the Centre Half Back, Thompson was among the Club’s shining lights in 2013 – taking a step forward in his football development as he became the GC SUNS no. 1 defensive stopper in the absence of Matthew Warnock and rehabilitating star utility Nathan Bock.

Knowing his team’s backline would be significantly undermanned without him in the starting line-up, Thompson played through injury at different stages of the year – missing just one match for the season.

In his 21 senior matches, more than double his combined career tally of 13 AFL appearances from 2011 and 2012, Thompson led the GC SUNS in multiple key performance indicators including total marks (105) and total one-percenters (183).

For the latter, he would go on to rank second in AFL behind the Jarryd Roughead.

Named the Victor Sports Most Improved Player and the HOSTPLUS Most Professional Player at the GC SUNS Club Championship Awards night, GC SUNS assistant coach Dean Solomon says Thompson’s journey in the AFL had only really just begun.

“He has the work ethic to improve and work on his craft, and hopefully he can hold down the Centre Half Back position for a long time,” Solomon says.

“He still has a lot of hard work to do, but the great thing about Rory is he always wants to improve as a defender.”

Standing opposite Lance Franklin, Nick Reiwoldt and Josh Kennedy, Thompson provided serviceable support on some of the game’s biggest star forwards.

“Clearly with Matthew Warnock being out, responsibility was thrown on him to play on the key forwards and the best goal-kickers,” Solomon said.

“He really invited the challenge, accepted it, embraced it and we really saw his game improve.”