Thoroughly popular team dismissed (6,3)
I believe the answer is:
inside out
'thoroughly' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'popular team dismissed' is the wordplay.
'popular' becomes 'in'.
'team' becomes 'side' (both can mean a sports team).
'dismissed' becomes 'out' (I've seen this before).
'in'+'side'+'out'='INSIDE-OUT'
(Other definitions for inside out that I've seen before include "exposing the wrong face?" , "how expert knows his trade?" , "reversal of normal" , "comprehensively" , "Thoroughly" .)