LISTENING to injured forward Nathan Thompson talk about how the Kangaroos are going about their footy this year gives the impression you are speaking with an excited fan, rather than a bloke who has just about seen it all over a 10-year AFL career.

Although he would no doubt prefer to be out on the field with his mates as they continue their climb up the ladder, for the time being, Thompson appears happy to act as the club's No. 1 fan in the wake of some pretty impressive performances.

"They've just been fantastic, the way they've been going about it this year," Thompson said at training this week.

"The type of football they've been playing, the one-on-one accountable footy, quick ball movement and working for each other; it's just fantastic to watch."

Last year's leading goalkicker says that while he would love to be among the goal-scoring frenzies that have accompanied most Kangaroos games this year, he is just happy that the club's fans are seeing attractive footy.

"I'd certainly love to be out there but I guess I'm just enjoying watching the other boys in the forward line get their opportunities and actually seeing the team play a good, hard brand of footy.

"I'm resigned to the fact I'll be out for the season, and there's nothing that can be done about that. But watching the games, and thinking as a forward, the way the boys are playing is how you want the team to be playing all the time."

While Thompson's injured left knee – which is progressing right on schedule, according to his surgeon – is keeping him from the field on match day, he spends just as much time at the club as he would if he was fully fit.

Apart from his rehabilitation, which at this stage consists largely of bike work and leg and upper body weights, Thompson is spending a lot of time with the club's younger brigade, helping them come to terms with the demands of being an AFL footballer.

"I've been getting involved with some of the younger guys and talking to some of them about their game on the weekend.

"I'm involved in a bit of a mentoring program where we try to go through some of their strengths and weaknesses to try and help them improve their game for the next week and each time they go out and play.

"We go over their match-day videos but really it's more about talking to them about how they are going about their footy, getting a feel for them as players, trying to give them some ideas and helping them learn a little bit more about the AFL and what's required to play at the senior level.

"A lot of young guys, when they come into the AFL, don't know how hard they have to work; it's a real learning experience for them. So to have someone who's been playing for a long time is hopefully helping them along."

As well as his mentoring role, Thompson's off-field schedule is filled with juggling the time between his young family, an expanding marketing company he runs with a mate and entertaining Kangaroos fans pre-match.

"I do a lot of game day stuff looking after the coterie groups – I go to the Chairman's Luncheon, and talk to the radio stations – basically whoever wants a chat.

"Obviously I've got a bit of time to spare on game day and I find those sorts of things really good experience – speaking to people and meeting people from all walks of life – it's all part of the show in footy at the moment.

"I'm enjoying doing it but I'm certainly looking forward to next year and getting back out on the ground and hopefully helping the club carry on with the sort of footy we've played over the last five weeks."