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And returns home.
Essendon confirm former Geelong coach Mark Thompson will assist James Hird at Essendon in 2011
Essendon general manager of football operations Paul Hamilton told a packed press conference that Hird's new assistant had made an impromptu visit to Bombers training on Wednesday morning to confirm his decision.
"It was an impromptu visit at the training session today ... and that's the way Mark is ... he went directly to the coach and the players and he wants to support this team," Hamilton revealed.
"It was unexpected. He (Thompson) walked out onto the training track, watched a bit of training ... and basically went and said to James (Hird) that he's definitely on board.
"From Essendon's point of view this is a fantastic outcome; it's a fantastic outcome for James, for the football department and for our team.
"For Mark it is a chance to come home to a club who he is a premiership captain (of) and played in three premiership teams, it is a great moment."
It was revealed that Hird had been intent on signing Thompson from the moment the Bombers announced their new coach in September.
Thompson, who coached 243 matches at the Cats, was Hird's premiership captain in 1993.
Hamilton apologised that Hird could not be in attendance and said Thompson would not join the team until December.
"Bomber is on extended leave as we all know and we want to honour that," Hamilton said.
"He made a decision to leave the Geelong football club, a painful decision ... and he made it clear in his announcement at Geelong that he would need and require some sort of extended break.
"We want him to take that break ... when he comes back we want him to make that great contribution that we know he will make to the Essendon football club.
"The players are very excited," he added.
The former Essendon defender's defection will to sting the Cats after he told Geelong officials that he was quitting with 12 months left to run on a lucrative contract. He cited burnout as the motivating force behind his decision to end his tenure at Skilled Stadium.
As Cats coach he spoke often of loyalty with pointed references to Gary Ablett's imminent departure to Gold Coast Suns.
Hird said earlier this week he had spoken to Thompson about a role alongside him but denied a deal had been signed.
Thompson played 202 matches with Essendon, winning the club's best and fairest in 1987 and 1990. He played in the 1984, 1985 and 2000 flags.
His coaching stint at Geelong spanned 10 years and returned a 61 per cent winning record.
Thompson piloted the Cats to their drought-breaking 2007 grand final success and was in charge in 2009 when Geelong defeated St Kilda in a classic decider.
Essendon confirm former Geelong coach Mark Thompson will assist James Hird at Essendon in 2011
Essendon general manager of football operations Paul Hamilton told a packed press conference that Hird's new assistant had made an impromptu visit to Bombers training on Wednesday morning to confirm his decision.
"It was an impromptu visit at the training session today ... and that's the way Mark is ... he went directly to the coach and the players and he wants to support this team," Hamilton revealed.
"It was unexpected. He (Thompson) walked out onto the training track, watched a bit of training ... and basically went and said to James (Hird) that he's definitely on board.
"From Essendon's point of view this is a fantastic outcome; it's a fantastic outcome for James, for the football department and for our team.
"For Mark it is a chance to come home to a club who he is a premiership captain (of) and played in three premiership teams, it is a great moment."
It was revealed that Hird had been intent on signing Thompson from the moment the Bombers announced their new coach in September.
Thompson, who coached 243 matches at the Cats, was Hird's premiership captain in 1993.
Hamilton apologised that Hird could not be in attendance and said Thompson would not join the team until December.
"Bomber is on extended leave as we all know and we want to honour that," Hamilton said.
"He made a decision to leave the Geelong football club, a painful decision ... and he made it clear in his announcement at Geelong that he would need and require some sort of extended break.
"We want him to take that break ... when he comes back we want him to make that great contribution that we know he will make to the Essendon football club.
"The players are very excited," he added.
The former Essendon defender's defection will to sting the Cats after he told Geelong officials that he was quitting with 12 months left to run on a lucrative contract. He cited burnout as the motivating force behind his decision to end his tenure at Skilled Stadium.
As Cats coach he spoke often of loyalty with pointed references to Gary Ablett's imminent departure to Gold Coast Suns.
Hird said earlier this week he had spoken to Thompson about a role alongside him but denied a deal had been signed.
Thompson played 202 matches with Essendon, winning the club's best and fairest in 1987 and 1990. He played in the 1984, 1985 and 2000 flags.
His coaching stint at Geelong spanned 10 years and returned a 61 per cent winning record.
Thompson piloted the Cats to their drought-breaking 2007 grand final success and was in charge in 2009 when Geelong defeated St Kilda in a classic decider.
