Mark Thompson (footballer)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mark Thompson
Personal information
Full name	Mark Thompson
Date of Birth	November 19, 1963 (1963-11-19) (age 44)
Place of Birth	Victoria, Australia
Recruited from	Airport West
Height/Weight	177 cm / 87 kg
Playing Career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1983 – 1996	Essendon	202 (50)
Coaching career³
Years	Club	Games (Wins)
2000 – 2008-	Geelong Victoria	184 (98) 1 (1-0-0)
¹ Club statistics to end of HOF Game, 2008 season
² Representative statistics to end of {{{repstatsend}}} Career highlights AFL 3-time AFL Premiership player (1984, 1985, 1993 - Captain) 3-time AFL Pre-Season Premiership player (1984, 1985, 1993 - Captain) VFL Reserves Premiership player (1983) Victoria State of Origin Representative (1986) Essendon Essendon Team of the Century Named 20th in Champions of Essendon list of all-time Essendon greats 2-time W. S. Crichton Medalist as Essendon Best & Fairest (1987, 1990) Captain of Essendon (1992 - 1995) 2-time Essendon FC Most Determined Player Award (1984, 1986) Essendon FC Most Improved Player Award (1985) Essendon FC Best Clubman Award (1985) Geelong Coach AFL Premiership Coach (2007 ) Jock McHale Medal (2007) McClelland Trophy as AFL Minor Premiership Coach (2007) AFL Pre-Season Premiership Coach (2006)

Mark "Bomber" Thompson (born November 19, 1963) is an Australian rules football player and coach. He played 202 games for the Essendon Bombers 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 Cats 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] Coaching 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 Telstra Dome (then 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.

[edit] 2006 Season

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 Season

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] References

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2007)

[edit] External Links