ESSENDON is poised to announce as early as Wednesday that it has snared Mark Thompson.
The massive coup to get the dual premiership coach from Geelong to Windy Hill is believed to have been formalised.
Thompson is expected to be named as a senior assistant to coach James Hird, who took his first day of training at Windy Hill today.
Thompson would act as an adviser to his Essendon premiership teammate. It is likely to be a part-time position.
The move comes less than a month after Thompson walked away from the final year of his contract with Geelong, citing burnout.
Speculation has been rife since Hird's appointment on September 28 that Thompson, a premiership captain with the Bombers, would head back to his first football home.
The Herald Sun recently revealed that Thompson and Essendon had been engaged in discussions on his football future since July.
Reliable sources said key Essendon figures, headed by club president David Evans, had been talking to the then Geelong coach regularly since Round 17.
Thompson's arrival is the jewel in the crown for Hird, who has built a "dream team" around him for his first year as a senior coach.
Former teammates Sean Wellman and Dean Wallis have returned to Windy Hill and recently retired Adelaide captain Simon Goodwin has joined the coaching panel.
Another Hird ally, Danny Corcoran, has been appointed people and development manager.
Former Bombers coach Kevin Sheedy urged Geelong to accept Thompson's departure.
"Forget about it, move on," Sheedy said on SEN radio.
"He was tired at Geelong. You don't need a tired coach at a club.
"You've got a hungry, young coach that's been appointed (in Chris Scott), so go for it."
No real surprise, but glad it has eventuated. Interesting to read that it may only be a part time gig.
great for the club, all the steps are being taken, just the important step in a few months, win the first 5 haha
Kakadu Kangaroos
Captain of the first BomberTalk International Test Squad
BT Soccer World Cup Champion Captain of the Bombertalk Reds 3rd with 4 wins - 108.30%
(6 games) - 65 kicks, 33 marks, 52 handballs, 4 tackles, 3 Hit Outs, 2 goals
maybe the party line will say part time to keep Geelong some-what happier, but don't you worry he'll be there as much as needed
Kakadu Kangaroos
Captain of the first BomberTalk International Test Squad
BT Soccer World Cup Champion Captain of the Bombertalk Reds 3rd with 4 wins - 108.30%
(6 games) - 65 kicks, 33 marks, 52 handballs, 4 tackles, 3 Hit Outs, 2 goals
Lets have a look at the difference is pedigree of our new coaching panel
Hird - 2 Premierships as a player
Thompson - 3 Premierships as a player, 2 Premierships as a coach
Wallis - 2 Premierships as a player
Goodwin - 2 Premierships as a player
Wellman - 1 Premiership as a player
McCartney - 2 Premierships as an Assistant
Versus
Knights - 0 Premierships as a player, 0 Premierships as a coach
Camporeale - 1 Premierships as a player, 0 Premierships as an Assistant Coach
Richardson - 1 Premierships as a player, 0 Premierships as an Assistant Coach
Hickmott - 0 Premierships as a player, 0 Premierships as an Assistant Coach
Prescott - 0 Premierships as a player, 0 Premierships as an Assistant Coach
I am not going to include O'Donnell as he was there before Knights brought in all his cronies (plus his experience runins my argument) - but I guess you are getting the point. Hird's Dream Team is just that much more experienced and successfull.
Just looking and comparing those names and nothing else gives you so much hope.... and then you look at their credentials =D>
Kakadu Kangaroos
Captain of the first BomberTalk International Test Squad
BT Soccer World Cup Champion Captain of the Bombertalk Reds 3rd with 4 wins - 108.30%
(6 games) - 65 kicks, 33 marks, 52 handballs, 4 tackles, 3 Hit Outs, 2 goals
I have a feeling the club sources could be stringing the media along on this one. I believe he will come to the club but not yet, unless it's a late afternoon press conference because nothing has been called yet.
im not worried about when it's announced, cause i know it will happen!!
Kakadu Kangaroos
Captain of the first BomberTalk International Test Squad
BT Soccer World Cup Champion Captain of the Bombertalk Reds 3rd with 4 wins - 108.30%
(6 games) - 65 kicks, 33 marks, 52 handballs, 4 tackles, 3 Hit Outs, 2 goals
BomberinJapan wrote:Can we change the thread to "It's (not) Official!"
Please.. It effing gets me every time
done, hope BD doesn't mind
Kakadu Kangaroos
Captain of the first BomberTalk International Test Squad
BT Soccer World Cup Champion Captain of the Bombertalk Reds 3rd with 4 wins - 108.30%
(6 games) - 65 kicks, 33 marks, 52 handballs, 4 tackles, 3 Hit Outs, 2 goals
