Essendon currently sit 2-1, have the second best percentage in the competition and have just beaten their long-time rivals Carlton by 81 points. It is fair to say things are looking pretty good.
Coach Mark Thompson sits in an unfamiliar position as caretaker coach. After the supplements scandal that rocked Essendon last year, Thompson knows he is only coach for this season. In 2015, he hands the reigns back to James Hird.
When you watch Thompson, there is a calm nature. This may be to do with knowing what will happen next year. In the box he looks as relaxed as ever, post-match he is offering insight and a real openness to questions and on AFL 360, he seems to be enjoying being free of the supplement scandal.
In saying this, there is a fear within Thompson. The fear is success. Most interim or caretaker coaches want success to prove they can coach. As a two-time premiership winning coach at Geelong, Thompson has nothing to prove.
The fear is that he will do so well as coach that people will want him to continue coaching next season and beyond.
At the start of 2011, James Hird was given the job of rebuilding the club. After Matthew Knights’ failure to connect with fans and make substantial ground with the list, it was handed to Hird, along with Thompson, to take Essendon to the final sonce again.
After finishing eighth in 2011, Essendon failed to make the finals in 2012 and last year finished sixth, however were kicked out of the finals due to the AFL punishment over the supplement scandal. In 2014, Essendon have the makings of a top-four side. The question is, should they finish top four and go deep in September, will Hird be able to emulate this success?
Despite being the golden child of Essendon and the #standbyhird hash tag which was in full voice last year, the fact remains that Thompson is a better coach than Hird.
Geelong captain Tom Harley, who was captain in the two premierships Thompson coached, expressed this after Essendon’s’ thumping of Carlton Sunday night, “I believe he is coaching as well if not better than he ever has”.
This endorsement was quickly squashed by Thompson in the post-match interview when told by a journalist, almost hating the fact he is being spoken about in such glowing terms.
Thompson agreed to take on the coaching role as the best thing for Essendon. He loves the club he played for and won three premierships as a player with. The last thing he wanted was the hard work of the previous three years to go unrewarded.
With Thompson as coach, he is quickly transforming Essendon from a good side to a potential premiership side. Notable changes have been Brendon Goddard spending more time forward than he did under Hird, as well as a clear structure being established, with Jake Carlisle playing forward and Michael Hurley playing back.
Most notable is the change in game style. They average 168 handballs across the first three rounds and lead the competition in average disposals with 435 – 35 more than any other team. They have a high uncontested game, averaging 146 marks – 41 more than Hawthorn, who are known for their precise foot skills and uncontested possession rate.
Thompson has been very loyal to Essendon and Hird. With no coaching experience before taking on the Essendon job, Hird needed an experienced assistant. Thompson has not just been that but very much the architect for game style and player development.
The season will play out and as we get closer to the finals, much will be said and written about Hird’s reintroduction to Essendon from his suspension. What will be of note is how the players and fans react. Most will welcome Hird back with open arms and no residual feelings for what occurred last year, but some may be less inclined to do so.
As for the coaching position itself, there is very little chance Thompson will lead the club beyond this year. However, if Essendon can go deep and even add its 17th premiership, this may be rethought.
No matter what happens, season 2014 will be much happier than 2013 and next season will see the return of Essendon’s much-loved son. In what capacity, we will wait with eager anticipation.
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