MAITLAND coach Mick Bolch reckons there is no way that James Thompson would have handled the responsibility of leading the Magpies attack last year.
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But in the past six months, the 22-year-old has developed a maturity to his game.
Not only is Thompson now the Magpies' go-to man, he has emerged as a leader.
The striker bagged his sixth goal for the campaign - chesting down a ball on the run and sliding a shot into the left corner - in the Magpies' 3-1 win over Newcastle Olympic on Sunday.
It was a striker's goal - power, pace and precision.
"He is very good on the ball and very good at running at defenders," Bolch said. "He got in the gym and put on about five kilograms of muscle, which has really helped his game.
"Up until this season, his end product has prevented him from going from being a good player to one of the best in the competition. I would rate him in the top five every day of the week.
"He has scored in the last three or four games and scored two against Olympic in the FFA Cup.
"At the start of the year, for him to get 10 would have been outstanding. He has always had the potential.
"His last couple of goals, he has become calmer and has more composure in front of goal."
In three previous seasons in the top grade, Thompson's biggest output had been four, which he netted last year.
However, the departure of prolific duo Braedyn Crowley and Joel Wood meant someone had to step up.
"Bolchy didn't really say it, but it was kind of implied that the goals would have to come from somewhere," Thompson said.
"I would like to get over 10. This is my fourth season and four was the most I had scored. It is good to get past that.
"Bolchy gives me free rein to drop into pockets to try and get on the ball, face and run at the defence and try to create something."
Thompson has re-signed with Maitland for next season and Bolch believes he is a future captain of the club.
"We still have the experience of Carl Thornton, Matt Swan and Ryan Clarke, but the next group of guys coming through, Jimmy is the leader of that group," Bolch said. "He is great at training, drives the intensity, always has an opinion and is trying to help other players out.
"From where he was two years ago. It is not about them just growing as footballers, it is about them growing as people. We have done a lot of work with him and Sean Pratt on how they get their message across to the young kids.
"At 22 he is pulling 19 year olds under his wing and saying I was like that three years ago. You have to be patient and do this and that. There is a message in the information they are putting across."
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