History will remember Saturday night as the night North stormed from behind to defeat a brave Essendon and eliminate them from the 2014 finals series.
The one season reign of Mark ‘Bomber’ Thompson at Essendon was over. His time at the helm there would become just another of football history’s footnotes, along with the likes of Brendan Bolton’s few weeks at the helm this year at Hawthorn.
He deserves far, far better than that.
At the press conference held post-game, Thompson was his usual self. Whereas as Geelong coach some years earlier he had been occasionally fiery, inclined not to suffer fools and sometimes even overwhelmed, tonight saw his finest performance.
It was a performance from a coach who, given the circumstances and obstacles he faced to come so far, would be a worthy recipient of Coach of the Year.
He was calm, measured and gently, though firmly, supportive of his players who have faced yet another traumatic off field year. There was humour and passion evident amidst the pain of the loss.
Questions were asked and answered without confusion, hesitation or deflection.
Thompson raised his mentor, Kevin Sheedy, at one point, explaining that though considered a hard taskmaster the players under him always knew they were genuinely loved and respected as players, club members and especially as people.
It was transparently obvious that he felt the same about his 2014 charges. When his obvious distress at the continuing drugs saga at Essendon and how it had affected his charges became part of the discussion, his voice betrayed his deep feeling.
Asked who was to blame for the ongoing saga – the AFL, the Club, James Hird, ASADA – he answered “us…all of us” and it was apparent to me that he himself accepted part blame for the events.
That’s what a coach does. More importantly, that is what a man does, and Essendon this year has been led by a coach who will be remembered as one of the true men of football, unafraid to profess his love for his players and his club, dignified, intelligent, witty and honest.
When Rudyard Kipling wrote his poem, “If…” which asks the reader if you can meet many standards and observes that, if you can, “…then you’ll be a man, my son”.
I believe he would have watched Mark Thompson this last year and nodded his approval.
Thompson does not know yet whether he has an ongoing role at Essendon. He has ruled out joint coaching with Hird and, with Neil Craig at the club, there seems no obvious other role he could fill.
It would be in character for him to walk away from the club and players before becoming a potential point of divisiveness, riding off into the sunset like the gunfighter in the movie Shane, his battle won but at the cost of the ultimate sacrifice to himself.
Bomber deserves better than that. I hope that someone, be it Essendon or another club, can convince him to continue in some suitable role. I’d love to see this year’s footnote become merely the opening lines of a new chapter of an ongoing history and I know so many journalists and supporters out there will agree.
I’ve never supported Essendon – or Geelong for that matter – but I have been impressed incredibly by the grace and poise of Mark Thompson over recent times.
I hope my beloved Sydney rolls out the red carpet for him. I don’t care what role we offered; no club can ever have too many good men in its ranks and, from what I have seen, Mark Thompson is up there with the very best our game has to offer.
Steve
Guest
Ever heard of punctuation? Try using it some time
david
Guest
11 other clubs people!
Barneythecrab
Guest
Looking forward to Bomber, Ryder and jetta joining the Crows at the end of the year. Just keep those drugs away from our club.
Redb
Roar Guru
Yes the gutting the club would make plenty of non fans happy. Thankfully none of you geniuses will have any input. Dank and Robinson are gone if you haven't caught the news. This is where the problem existed.
Daza
Guest
Cloak the best forward in the league? 18th in the Coleman says otherwise!
Danny D
Guest
Great response Sharon, sounds like your well informed and know people at the club on a personal basis... can't wait for your next bit of insight... Shazza!
Bobbo7
Guest
Oh and he was assistant coach while the whole team was drugged. Let's not forget that.
Olivia Watts
Roar Guru
Thanks for the clarification Aransan, and for your thoughts. It was obvious last night that wherever the blame is ultimately found to belong, Thompson believes that ASADA and the AFL have made a dog's breakfast of the whole investigation process. I agree completely with that opinion.
Olivia Watts
Roar Guru
Not just in the eyes of Cats fans, Asd. I loved him as a player and always wished he would come to Sydney back in the day and, as a Coach, there have been few I respected more. The issues at Essendon notwithstanding, I haven't changed my views on Mark Thompson the man. I'd welcome him at Sydney as Coaches Coordinator or mentor or whatever role they had to create for him.
Olivia Watts
Roar Guru
Thanks Peter ..... With folk like you writing, I have good role models!
Sharon Kirk
Guest
Should coach a side out of Victoria as mud sticks he would be better of coaching under 18 give top job a rest until this saga over which could be another 12 months
Sharon Kirk
Guest
Ask paddy Ryder why he is walking out as he taking the get out clause they have each player sign after this saga went down mark mcviegh was another that said they didn't do anything wrong now he is backing Ryder now as he is also worried about his children don't hear from him now he taken a step back from it so I gather he knows a lot more about the ban substance
asd
Guest
All this crap with asada gone on too long they punished the players last year . Bomber between a rock and a hard place. But in cats fans Eyes he wil allways be a star
Sharon Kirk
Guest
Players no what it is they been told to say nothing jobe Watson wouldn't go on the couch saying it's not true bloody hell Ryder would love to talk as he using this as a clause the club gave these guys past and present players throw danks in a cell until he talks and bomber he was at yr club Geelong as well is this how your club won so many gf Ben cousins a angel compared to this club Hird should keep going as if anything does happen to these guys in a few yrs parents will not sit back and see there kids suffer the draft this yr parents wouldn't want there kids at that club I don't blame them
Sharon Kirk
Guest
If it wasn't a ban substance they would not be still going on about it they must have the evidence to keep going jobe watsons the one that came forward with this info with Gerard Healy and Wayne Carey the on the couch show I say tim watsons the one that told him to come forward with it as it will most likely be for the safety of any kids these guys have hope to god this is not the case hope essendon have a good insurance policy for these guys in yrs to come anyone notice tim watsons not say much lately I guess he is also worried about it and not saying anything love someone to write a book on this it will be a best seller for sure to get the right story bomber won't stay around to me it looks like he couldn't get out of the media room quick enough bet he glad it's over for him now watch this space more saga to come
Sharon Kirk
Guest
Hird will have to go lost the players trust guys would rather bomber to coach essendon must have plenty of money as this is going to cost them plenty Ryder has every right to leave it's in the clause the club put out when this saga went down and he is using it so will others to follow sorry Hird should never be able to coach again howlet wants out and come home to wa someone knows more than what there telling people Hird himself had a health scare himself while in the USA he was another that took the stuff even though he wasn't playing wonder if Lloyd will stick up for his mate
Sharon Kirk
Guest
Bet if Hird was coaching there wouldn't of been that many lets see what happens now bombers going as for going to collingwood that won't happen as Buckley not a coaches arsehole bomber won't go there eddies wonder boy will make sure players leaving left right centre now who next to go
Peter Baudinette
Roar Guru
Nice piece Olivia, a breath of fresh air.
Bosk
Roar Rookie
Nor do you Casper, but unlike yourself I don't support a team that's about to have most of its best players slapped with a two year ban. Enjoy next season chum, can't wait to see who Essendon picks up from the VFL, SANFL & WAFL!
Casper
Guest
For starters, pull your head in. Please come forward with any information that you have that Essendon players took banned drugs. What drugs have potential cancer causing side effects? You really have no idea.