The final piece in Essendon’s new-look coaching panel is now complete with senior assistant coach Mark ‘Bomber’ Thompson officially coming home to Windy Hill this week.
Speaking exclusively to Bomber.tv, the former Bombers captain and Premiership player says he is determined to return his old club to its glory days.
“It’s been great to be back, I have obviously been at Geelong for 11 years and that was a big part of my life but it is great to be back at the Bombers,” Thompson said.
“I think when I decided I didn’t want to be the senior coach at Geelong, I saw a great opportunity to give James Hird a hand at Essendon. I wanted to give something back to the club to make sure that they improve.
“I just want to help Hirdy and help the Essendon Football Club. It was sad to see it in the state that it was but I am expecting a lot of improvement and I think we are very capable of doing it.”
The two-time Geelong Premiership coach commenced his role of senior assistant coach yesterday, completing a new-look coaching panel led by senior coach James Hird and supported by assistant coaches Sean Wellman, Brendan McCartney, Simon Goodwin, Dean Wallis and Shannon Grant.
Thompson said Hird’s appointment as senior coach played a key role in his decision to return to the club he played 202 matches for, including three Premierships (1984, 1985, 1993).
“There is no doubt, I think it is a really good coaching group with some really good experience and there is no doubt that we will match any coaching group in the AFL,” Thompson said.
“I am very excited about the people that I am going to be working with.
“I think there is definite scope for the team to improve and we should be aiming at that next season.”
Thompson says the Bombers promise to deliver an exciting brand of football next season but admits there is still plenty of hard work to be done.
“I think you will see an exciting brand of football. We have great people around the football club and we are going to produce the best football and do our best to win as many games as we can,” Thompson said.
“We need the Essendon supporters to come on board with us because we have probably lacked that real, genuine Essendon support over the past couple of years and we want that back.”
