Mark Bomber Thompson to be James Hird's boss at Essendon
- Patrick Smith and Greg Denham
- From: The Australian
- September 28, 2010 12:00AM
ESSENDON appears poised to leave Geelong in turmoil, after pulling off a massive coup by poaching dual Cats premiership coach Mark Thompson back to Windy Hill.
Thompson, a past Essendon captain, dual best-and-fairest winner and multiple premiership player, has agreed to work as James Hird's boss in what is an extraordinary boost for the flagging Bombers, which have lost their way since Kevin Sheedy was axed three years ago.
The imminent announcement that Thompson will next year be the Bombers' director of coaching, above senior coach-in-waiting James Hird, is expected to rock the foundations of Skilled Stadium, where Thompson is contracted as the Cats' senior coach for another season.
Geelong has long maintained an emphatic stance that Thompson would not be leaving this year.
A source close to Essendon last night confirmed to The Australian that Thompson was on the move after 11 straight seasons with Geelong.
The Thompson-Hird partnership is viewed by the Essendon administration, members and supporters as the club's dream team, the perfect combination to lead the club back to their former powerhouse reputation.
The Australian can confirm that Thompson and Essendon finalised his switch from Geelong to Essendon late last week. Only a dramatic last-moment stumble would put in doubt Thompson's decision to leave the Cats to become Essendon's coaching powerbroker.
Hird has already confirmed with his company, Gemba, that he will be senior coach at Essendon next year. Along with the panel appointed to find Matthew Knights' replacement - Scott Lucas, Ian Robson and Paul Hamilton - Hird has been putting together his ideal coaching team.
Essendon has been wooing Hird's best options as associates since before the end of the season, when it was clear the club's coach for the past three years, Knights, would have his contract severed after round 22. On September 8 The Australian reported exclusively that Thompson was preparing to move to Essendon and leave the club he coached to premierships in 2007 and 2009 as well as to the 2008 grand final.
Geelong faces a severe double blow this week, due to the almost certain departure to the Gold Coast of Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett.
The Cats were told yesterday by Ablett's management that their star midfielder would make his decision this week, before the grand final replay.
Ablett is likely to make his announcement to leave on Friday, the day after Geelong's best and fairest award night, where he is favourite to win his third club champion award.
Thompson would not compromise his role with the Cats and their bid to win a third title, and would not formally speak to Essendon until after Geelong either won the premiership or was bundled out of the finals, which happened last Friday week.
Geelong's apathy in the face of Collingwood's challenge in the preliminary final where the Cats lost by 41 points, after kicking just three goals in the first half, is believed to have confirmed Thompson's feelings that an era at the club was over and that it could benefit from a new coach.
After 11 straight years at Geelong, Thompson is also understood to have been looking for a break from the stress of match day coaching. His new role at Essendon will allow him to mentor Hird and avoid the majority of the pressure in the coach's box. Hird has taken advice from senior football people to surround himself with some of the code's elite football brains, as he will enter 2011 as a rookie with no previous assistant coaching experience.
Despite his three grand final appearances in the past four seasons, Thompson is still understood to hold resentment against Geelong's extensive football department review late in 2006, in which two directors wanted him removed.
Also expected to join Thompson and Hird in their new roles at Essendon is Hird's 2000 premiership teammate Sean Wellman, who yesterday resigned as an assistant coach at Melbourne where he has spent the past three years under Dean Bailey. He previously worked as an assistant with the Western Bulldogs for two years.
Wellman could become a senior assistant coach under Hird. Recently retired Adelaide captain Simon Goodwin is also expected to be part of the new team at Essendon, as a first-year assistant coach.
It remains unclear whether there will be roles under Thompson and Hird for former North Melbourne senior coach Dean Laidley and current Essendon assistant coach Alan Richardson, who has a verbal contract beyond this year to remain at Windy Hill. Richardson was interviewed last week for the role as senior coach, as was Laidley, who presented for the second time last Friday.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...boss-at-essendon/story-e6frg7mf-1225930260349
f**k off, how many coaches do they need ?
Bomber is still under contract at the Cats
