Bomba Thompson

Football Discussion Dustin Fletcher Hangar
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He's not coming back, mentioned it at a charity dinner tonight at Etihad.

Mentioned to you specifically or out loud to everyone? Curious.

Bomber was probably just mumbling it to himself
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https://twitter.com/rohan_connolly/status/525213671245357058

Mark Thompson’s AFL journey deserves a more fitting end

Date

October 23, 2014 - 6:43PM

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Rohan Connolly

Senior AFL writer for The Age

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Those present at the best-and-fairest recall a rambled dialogue and a puzzled audience. Photo: Getty Images

Things can change quickly in the football world. But even by AFL standards, it’s difficult to comprehend the extent to which they’ve changed for Mark Thompson over the past three weeks.

On the first day of this month, the dual-premiership coach seemed set to again lead the club he’d just taken into the finals. A week short of the end of October, Thompson doesn’t seem likely to be working at any club in any capacity next year.

It’s not as though there’s a paucity of jobs, either. Gold Coast and the Western Bulldogs are still to appoint senior coaches for 2015. Essendon has James Hird back in the saddle, but that’s not likely to remain the case should its players fall foul of the AFL anti-doping tribunal.

Yet even if Hird does not end up coaching the Bombers next year, Thompson is at long odds to be his replacement, particularly now with another Essendon favourite son Mark Harvey back in the fold.

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What can possibly have changed so much in such a short time? Little in practical terms. But in terms of perception, plenty.

The popular view of Thompson when Essendon’s season finished at the hands of North Melbourne was of a jocular, slightly eccentric man who’d achieved highly respectable results standing in for Hird, as well as providing his share of off-field entertainment courtesy of his performances at post-match press conferences this year.

But since then, and particularly since the night of Essendon’s best and fairest count on October 1, the impression spread throughout the football world has been entirely different.

The same phrases keep being used: “erratic” and “unpredictable” two of the more popular descriptions. There have been continued whispers about Thompson’s behaviour. And there is no question that the insidious football grapevine has been  damaging.

Even the strongest supporters of the three-time Essendon premiership player have been concerned by the extent of the mutterings about his conduct in recent weeks. How quickly the landscape has changed.

On the night of the Crichton Medal it seemed Essendon was determined to wash its hands of Hird given his decision to go against the club’s wishes and appeal the ruling on the ASADA investigation. It also seemed that the club would not only move to secure Thompson for 2015 but do so quickly before it was beaten to the punch by an eager suitor in Gold Coast.

That the Suns’ interest cooled rapidly would be an understatement. That the same club is now courting another experienced coach in Rodney Eade who, despite an imposing record, can’t match Thompson’s two premiership medallions with Geelong – makes the about-face even more puzzling.

Thompson’s name has barely rated a mention in relation to the vacant Western Bulldogs’ position, either. While he’s clearly the most credentialed of the various names being thrown about to replace Brendan McCartney, it is contenders previously untried at senior level such as Brett Montgomery, Leigh Tudor and Brendon Bolton who are considered far more likely.

Conspiracy theorists believe there are some murky waters surrounding those two clubs’ apparent lack of interest.

They believe the AFL – not thrilled by Hird being replaced by another man sanctioned for his role in the Essendon supplements saga – hasn’t been backward in coming forward to vocalise its misgivings.

And it’s far easier not to take the advice from the game’s headquarters on board when you’re a direct creation of that administration still in your infancy, or a club relying heavily on AFL money and goodwill.

That said, Thompson’s often contradictory actions haven’t helped his own cause. A year ago, it was about the possibility of taking over from Hird to begin with. And lately, about continuing in the role. Plenty of mixed messages.

On the night of the best and fairest, too. Popular reports of that evening described a strident speech and bold job application from Thompson, and a crowd chanting his name. Those present (and I was) would recall more a rambling dialogue and a puzzled audience that began audibly begging him to offer some idea of his intentions. Even then, his analogy about an AFL player sent back to the VFL seemed as likely a stream of consciousness as a calculated pitch for Hird’s job.

That now seems to have been Thompson’s last hurrah as a key player in the football world after more than 30 years unbroken service and a CV as a player and coach that stands among the best.

It reads five premierships, seven grand finals, two best and fairests, three All-Australian gongs and no fewer than 485 games.

That’s some legacy, one that deserves a lot more kudos than it has ever received. And regardless of the circumstances, it’s sad indeed that it is a contribution that seems to be ending with far more of a whimper than a bang.

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A senior journalist gets ***** slapped at The Agenda: 

 

October 23, 2014 - 6:43PM 

Mark Thompson's AFL journey deserves a more fitting end - an end to Bomber era at EFC but does not include any quotes in this article, suggesting he just made this up. 

Rohan Connelly - Senior AFL writer for The Age

 

October 23, 2014 - 7:31PM - approx. 45 minutes later

Essendon 2014 coach Mark Thompson open to sticking with Bombers in reduced capacity - numerous quotes from numerous sources, suggesting some effort went into the research  

Ronny Lerner - Article from The Agenda but who is this? work experience kid?

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Bomber did a great job in 2014 .  No mistake.  It was fun,  it got us to the finals.   It got valuable games into some future forward line stars.  But things do change.  It is possible to go from an understanding that you are an "interim coach"  to a feeling that you would like to continue in the job  even just 7 months later.  It is possible that Hirdy will be sacked.   If you like the job,   it would be good to be waiting in the wings.

 

There is a contract.  Hirdy does have a contract.  All Bomber needed to do was take a one year Senior Assistant Coach position ,   subordinate to Hirdy and bide his time, in case Hirdy does have to leave.

 

But Bomber put his foot in it and said publicly did not want to play second fiddle.   IMO this was his biggest mistake, and it just left the door open for Harves to come in.   Harves is now the  best viable alternative if the worst happens.  IMO Incumbency is important .....

 

So if Bomber wants the top coaching job at Essendon in the long term ,  he needs to stick around somehow and take a chance.   He doesnt need the big bucks,  so its really up to him.

 

 

Bomber for the Player Development role. !

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Neeld has the player development role.

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Neeld has the player development role.


Interesting. Hope he actually talks to all our players not just the best 30.
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Neeld has the player development role.

Has that been verified anywhere?

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Neeld has the player development role.

Let`s hope NOT!!!

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He couldn’t develop a way out of a maze with a map let alone a club

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He couldn't develop a way out of a maze with a map let alone a club

 

He took Geelong out of 40 years of continuous failure into a powerhouse.

 

Blight is one of the best coaches of all time and he couldn't achieve it.

 

Bomber did it twice just to prove it wasn't a fluke.

 

Maybe you are too young to know but up until then Geelong were considered a joke by clubs like Essendon.

 

He took the Essendon culture and implanted it into Geelong.

 

Guys like Brownless wept. Bomber just strutted out like he does with an air of "no big deal".

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He couldn't develop a way out of a maze with a map let alone a club


 

He took Geelong out of 40 years of continuous failure into a powerhouse.

 

Blight is one of the best coaches of all time and he couldn't achieve it.

 

Bomber did it twice just to prove it wasn't a fluke.

 

Maybe you are too young to know but up until then Geelong were considered a joke by clubs like Essendon.

 

He took the Essendon culture and implanted it into Geelong.

 

Guys like Brownless wept. Bomber just strutted out like he does with an air of "no big deal".

 

mate, hes talking about neeld.

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awkward

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He couldn't develop a way out of a maze with a map let alone a club

 

He took Geelong out of 40 years of continuous failure into a powerhouse.

 

Blight is one of the best coaches of all time and he couldn't achieve it.

 

Bomber did it twice just to prove it wasn't a fluke.

 

Maybe you are too young to know but up until then Geelong were considered a joke by clubs like Essendon.

 

He took the Essendon culture and implanted it into Geelong.

 

Guys like Brownless wept. Bomber just strutted out like he does with an air of "no big deal".

 

mate, hes talking about neeld.

 

 

ha ha. Thank farking god. Apologies Billy I've had a few to drink.

I think I've been spooked by some of the weird stuff I've read over the last few years. Its like people have lost their football minds.

Bomber might not be Mr Average but neither are many of the geniuses of this world.

If there is one thing he knows, its ■■■■■■ footy. He's a gun. We have to keep him at all costs.

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Awks.

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ha ha. Very awks. Should always read more than the thread title and the top of the page post!

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Don’t feel too bad, it was a great post :slight_smile:

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Bomber staying goes way beyond what he brings to the table in terms of football knowledge.

 

It's the solidarity he will bring to the club.

 

After publically declaring at the BnF he didn't what to go backwards (intimating he wanted the top job),

if Bomber stays in what would be a lesser role, it would show again that the this club IS way bigger than any individual.

 

See how Wilson,Barratt,Ralph and co like those apples.

 

We ain't the most successful club in AFL/VFL history for nothing my friends.

 

The only farking missing piece after Bomber, is Sheeds to return.

 

He can front the media every week after a couple reds and bamboozle the living ****   out of them all..............

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What Bomber has brought to our club and could bring to our club is enormous ,the guy is a total legend in my book,  but that club presentation night,  I love the guy , but I cant get over  the way he wanted Hirdys job,  help me if you can ? What was that, I am still struggling with that

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I’m curious to know what people think bomber can bring to the table he already would have for the last 4 year’s, that would be different to what he has so gar ?

When you take into account some of his comments from this year.

He may have the experience . The skill set etc , but if he can’t actually get others to follow what he is saying, is there actually any point to keeping him around in a made up role for him, just cos ?

As far as I can gather hos role was to help teach hirdy the ropes. That surely has been achieved and bow its hirdys time to take on board the things he wants to from bombers coaching style, and start developing his own mantra and coaching style.

I just don’t see how him sticking around now helps things, when you add the b n f dramatics it really doesnt add up.

At some point hord has to be taken off the training wheels and see if he can actually coach by himself, not with a safety net.

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What Bomber has brought to our club and could bring to our club is enormous ,the guy is a total legend in my book,  but that club presentation night,  I love the guy , but I cant get over  the way he wanted Hirdys job,  help me if you can ? What was that, I am still struggling with that

 

Dude. Hird was sacked that day. Simple as that. It put the whole club in a farked position on B&F night. Bomber doesn't run the club and doesn't do the hiring and firing. He's obviously the guy in reserve if Hird couldn't coach on. I reckon he'd have walked away thinking if this is handled like crap then no way am I taking over.

 

What would he bring to the table Phoenex? How about everything that goes with being at the level above what we've been for the last 12 or so years. How to be a side and club that's better than 8th. He's been trying to bring it but there's been just a couple of small issues causing some havoc.. He needs some free air from this ASADA crap to finally instill on this group what it takes to be a tough as nails, give nothing, completely shut down and relentlessly attack the opposition till they give in. Like I say, there's been an issue or 2 working against that. Give him some clear air.