Mark Thompson (footballer)
| Mark Thompson | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Mark Thompson | ||
| Nickname(s) | Bomber | ||
| Date of birth | 19 November 1963 | ||
| Place of birth | Melbourne, Victoria | ||
| Original team(s) | Airport West (EDFL) | ||
| Height | 177 cm (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Weight | 87 kg (192 lb) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1983–1996 | Essendon | 202 (50) | |
| Representative team honours | |||
| Years | Team | Games (Goals) | |
| 1986 | Victoria | 1 (0) | |
| Coaching career | |||
| Years | Club | Games (W–L–D) | |
| 2000–2010 | Geelong | 260 (161–96–3) | |
| 2014 | Essendon | 23 (12–10–1) | |
| Total | 283 (173–106–4) | ||
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1996.
2 State and international statistics correct as of 2014.
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| Career highlights | |||
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Playing
Coaching
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| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Playing
Coaching
Mark "Bomber" Thompson (born 19 November 1963) is a retired Australian rules footballer and former senior coach. He played 202 games for the Essendon Football Club from 1983 to 1996, captaining the side from 1992 until 1995. After retiring, he was an assistant coach at Essendon and then at North Melbourne before becoming the senior coach of the Geelong Football Club from 2000 to 2010 and coaching them to two premierships. In November 2010, Thompson returned to Essendon as senior assistant coach and was then appointed the senior coach for the 2014 season. He left the club at the end of 2014.
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.
As Geelong coach, Thompson was given an extended time to rebuild the club's playing list. The side finished 5th in 2000 as 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 Docklands 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. Due to his success in reinvigorating the club, Thompson's contract was extended until 2007. 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.
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. Following a Round 22 61 point demolition at the hands of lower-placed Hawthorn, Thompson's job was under immense pressure.
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