Season 2008 - Official AFL Website of the Geelong Football Club

His outstanding season saw him named as coach of the year by the AFL coaches association, and as All Australian coach.

Thompson led the Cats back to the grand final in 2008, dropping only one game along the way. Alas, Hawthorn proved too good on the big day. He earned a second consecutive coach of the year award from the AFL coaches association.

Mark also coached the Victorian team to a win in the 2008 all star contest at the MCG.

He was named as senior coach of the Geelong Football Club in September 1999, and he has helped transform the club over his eight years at the helm.

In addition to the 2007 success, he coached the club to the 2006 NAB Cup win and has led the club to the finals in four of the past five years, while at the same time completely overhauling the playing list. Only Tom Harley, Matthew Scarlett, Darren Milburn and David Wojcinski remain from the playing list that Thompson inherited. Thompson’s 210 games sees him rank as the second longest tenured coach in club history, and his 122 wins are also second most by a Geelong coach.

Thompson is one of only seven men to have played 200 games with one club and coached 150 games with another club. The others are Kevin Sheedy, Leigh Matthews, Rodney Eade, David Parkin, Percy Bentley, and Ron Barassi. He is a life member of the AFL as his combined games as a player and coach surpassed 300. Mark began his coaching career immediately upon his retirement as a player in 1996.

Mark replaced Mark Williams as coach of Essendon reserves when Williams went back to Port Adelaide. He took the Bombers to the grand final and repeated the feat in 1998. He moved to Arden Street in 1999 as an assistant and reserves coach working with Denis Pagan. The Kangaroos won the AFL premiership, with the grand final serving as Mark’s last day as a member of the Roos. He compiled a 37-38 record in his three and a half seasons coaching AFL reserves, working with a myriad of players.

COACHING RECORD

PLAYING CAREER

Thompson marked himself as one of Essendon's all-time greats over a 202 game career at Windy Hill.

Thompson was a member of three premiership teams, 1984, 1985 and 1993, and captained the Bombers to their 93 flag. He also played in three night triumphs and the 1983 reserves grand final win.

He twice earned All Australian honours and won two best & fairest awards. Thompson was named in Essendon’s team of the century and was also named as the Bombers’ 20^th greatest player of all-time.

Thompson's first day of training with Essendon under 19s coincided with Kevin Sheedy's first training session as Essendon coach. Thompson progressed from the under 19s to the reserves and made his senior debut in the opening round of the 1983 season, a one point loss to Sydney at the SCG.

He established himself as a senior player in 1984 and remained as an integral member of the one of the AFL's best teams until he retired in 1996.

Thompson kicked 50 goals in his 202 game career.