Thompson, who played his junior football with Kyneton, announced his retirement from AFL club North Melbourne last month.

Asked yesterday if there was any possibility he could return to his struggling home club next season, Thompson told The Advertiser: “I really don’t know what I’m doing next year, but I doubt very much whether Kyneton would be in my plans.

“I have a young family and we have just renovated a house in Doncaster to live in, which is a fair way to be travelling back to Kyneton.

“Certainly, one day I would like to get back to the club and be involved in some capacity, but next year would be a long way off.

“In saying that, I haven’t decided anything yet, so that’s exactly where it’s at.’’

Thompson, also a former Bendigo Pioneer, still keeps a close watch on Kyneton in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football League, and was the special guest at the Tigers’ round four game against Kangaroo Flat this year.

The Tigers finished on the bottom of the ladder this season, winning just one game.

“I keep a good eye on the club and obviously, don’t like seeing it struggle the way it is at the moment,’’ Thompson said.

“If it was to happen (a return to Kyneton), it would need to fit with my family plans.

“I’m not going to uproot the family in order to just go back there.’’

Thompson, who played 179 games for the Hawks and Kangaroos and kicked 327 goals between 1998 and this season, hasn’t ruled out the prospect of his AFL career continuing next year if there was interest from clubs.

“I announced my retirement from the Kangaroos basically because myself and the club are going in different directions,’’ Thompson said.

“The club wanted to go with youth and I understand that; with the two new clubs coming in to the competition clubs are now probably heading towards youth a bit earlier than they might have.

“But in saying that, if there is a five per cent chance a team wanted me to play on I would certainly seriously think about it.