Essendon senior assistant coach Mark Thompson says one of the most important reasons for his return to Windy Hill was the chance to give something back to his former club.
“I wouldn’t be who I am and I wouldn’t have done what I’ve done in my life without the Bombers,” Thompson said.
“When James (Hird) rang I was nearly ready to walk away. But the feeling I have for the club, the love for the club and seeing where the club was at saddened me a little bit.”
The appointment of Thompson to the coaching panel led by James Hird has been the subject of significant speculation, but the three time Essendon premiership player says it was the right time to leave Geelong.
""All I know is that I pretty much knew in my heart that I didn't want to be a senior coach anymore,"" he said.
“I gave everything I could possibly give to the Geelong Football Club, I don’t think I could have done anymore and I walked away from a very lucrative contract because I didn’t feel like I could do the job.”
Senior coach James Hird said Thompson’s experience and knowledge will be invaluable to the group.
“For me to have a guy of the quality of Mark Thompson, to bring in a guy who has been the best coach of the last five years and coached the best side of the last five years is very exciting,” Hird said.
His specific role in the new look coaching panel will focus on long term and short term goals.
“It won’t be a line specific role for Bomber, it will be more around guiding the football department and the coaches about where we are going and probably looking a bit further ahead than we usually do as coaches.”
“One of things Bomber and I spoke about and one of his passions is teaching people how to play football,” he said.
