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Mark "Bomber" Thompson (born 19 November 1963) is a former Australian rules footballer and current coach. He played 202 games for the Essendon Football Club between 1983 and 1996, captaining the side from 1992 until 1995. After retiring, he was an assistant coach at Essendon and an assistant coach at Kangaroos , and later went on to become the senior coach of the Geelong Football Club from 2000 onwards.

[edit] VFL/AFL playing career

Thompson played most of his football in the backline, gaining a reputation as a fierce competitor. He won the club award for "most determined player" in 1984 and 1986, "Most Improved Player" and "Best Clubman" in 1985, and best-and-fairest awards in 1987 and 1990. He also finished in the top five in the best-and-fairest on four other occasions. Thompson played in the 1984 and 1985 premiership sides, and captained the 1993 premiership team. In 2002, Thompson's contribution to the club was recognised when he was voted the 20th best Essendon player of all time in the "Champions of Essendon" list.

[edit] AFL coaching career

[edit] Early career

As Geelong coach, Thompson was given an extended time to rebuild the club's playing list. The side finished 5th in his first season as coach but was bundled out by 8th placed Hawthorn in the first week of the finals in the first finals match ever held at the Etihad Stadium (previously Telstra Dome but at the time it was called Colonial Stadium). The club performed poorly for the next three seasons, missing the top 8. Thompson's position looked in danger, but in 2004 the side was a big improver, finishing fourth and making the Preliminary Finals, and the following year (2005) the club finished sixth and was beaten in the Semi Finals by 3 points against the eventual premiers Sydney after leading for the majority of the match. Thompson went on in 2007 to win the AFL Premiership against Port Adelaide by a massive 119 points. Following an unexpected loss to Hawthorn in 2008, Thompson coached Geelong to its second Premiership in three years in 2009.

[edit] 2006

Due to his success in reinvigorating the club, Thompson's contract was extended until 2007 in late 2004. In 2006, however, the side eventually missed the finals after winning the NAB Cup and winning their first two matches in convincing style, leading them into flag favouritism. It was also a season where Thompson had used the 2005 semi-final loss to the Swans as motivation. [1] Following a Round 22 61 point demolition at the hands of lower-placed Hawthorn, Thompson's job was under immense pressure. [2]

[edit] 2007

After a very public review of the club it was decided that Thompson should keep his job as coach. After a shaky start to the season that led many supporters to believe that nothing had changed from the 2006 season Thompson led his team to a massive 15 match winning streak (the biggest in a single season in club history) and a 106 point demolition of the Kangaroos in the Qualifying Final which is the 5th biggest finals winning margin in AFL/VFL history.

After the sacking of former mentor, Kevin Sheedy, there was speculation that Mark Thompson would take up the senior coaching role at the Essendon Football Club for the 2008 season. However, with trade week quickly approaching, the club instead appointed Matthew Knights to the position.

2007 also marked one of the biggest, if not the best highlight of Thompson's career, in both a coaching and footballer's role. Thompson coached Geelong to win the AFL premiership by more than 100 points - the highest winning margin in Grand Final history, against Port Adelaide Football Club at the MCG on 29th of September.

[edit] 2008

After their record breaking win in the grand final, Thompson's Cats were red hot favourite to repeat their 2007 success and their form during the year did nothing to change that. The Cats went 21-1 to claim the McClelland Trophy four games ahead of their nearest challenger, Hawthorn. After relativity easy wins against St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs in the finals, Geelong were into their second straight grand final against Hawthorn and were again hot favourites. In what was an upset, the Hawks beat Geelong by 26 points in front of 100,012 fans.

[edit] 2009

In 2009 following a heartbreaking loss to Hawthorn in the 2008 Premiership decider, Geelong compiled a 18-4 record during the minor round and disposed of the Western Bulldogs and then Collingwood during the finals series. On September 26, his Cats faced a St Kilda side determined to break its 43 year Premiership drought. In front of 99,251 fans on a rain-soaked MCG deck the Cats clawed their way back after trailing at every break to win by 12 points. This would be Geelongs second flag in three years cementing their place as one of the great teams of the modern era. Thompson as always was magnanimous in victory and accepted the AFL Premiership trophy alongside Geelong legend Bob Davis.

[edit] Statistics

[edit] Coaching statistics

Statistics are correct as of 26 September 2009 (Grand final, 2009 season).^[1]

[edit] Honours

[edit] Playing honours

Team:

• AFL Premiership (Essendon): 1984, 1985, 1993 (captain)
• AFL pre-season premiership (Essendon): 1984, 1985, 1993 (captain)
• VFL Premiership (?): 1983

Individual:

• AFL:
  • Victorian team representative honours in State of Origin: 1986

• Essendon Football Club:
  • Member of the Essendon F.C. Team of the Century
  • Member of the Champions of Essendon list (20^th place)
  • W. S. Crichton Medal: 1987, 1990
  • Essendon F.C. captain: 1992–1995
  • Essendon F.C. Most Determined Player Award: 1984, 1986
  • Essendon F.C. Best Clubman Award: 1985
  • Essendon F.C. Most Improved Player Award: 1985

[edit] Coaching honours

Team:

• AFL Premiership (Geelong): 2007, 2009
• AFL McClelland Trophy (Geelong): 2007, 2008
• AFL NAB Cup (Geelong): 2006, 2009

Individual:

• AFL:
  • Jock McHale Medal: 2007, 2009
  • AFL Coaches Association Coach of the Year Award: 2007, 2008

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Mark Thompson (footballer)'s statistics from AFL Tables
• Mark Thompson coaching record and statistics at FootyWire.com