Three’s a crowd: Brian Cook, Mark Thompson and Frank Costa at this week’s announcement. Picture: Tommy Ritchie
Andrew Mathieson
DEPARTING Geelong coach Mark Thompson has revealed he kept his plans to quit the club a secret for weeks before telling Cats president Frank Costa days ago.
Thompson confessed this week he was “pretty much over the job” after 11 years, 161 wins, seven finals’ series and two premierships from three grand finals.
He defended keeping the club in the dark despite being fully aware during the Cats’ 2010 finals campaign that this season would be his last at the helm of the club.
“I kept it to myself because if I had have done it six weeks ago then the whole speculation about who was going to replace me and the goodbyes would have been a distraction to the team,” Thompson said.
“I totally wanted to put every bit of effort into winning the 2010 premiership.
“It didn’t happen unfortunately, although we got close, and since then I’ve just proceeded to do what I’ve done.”
Thompson informed Geelong chief executive officer Brian Cook last week that he was “burnt out” and suggested he was considering whether to coach next year.
Geelong gave the 46-year-old until the start of trade period this week to make a final decision.
He told Costa on Monday morning he would resign one year before the end of his contract.
“In the end, after every season you get tired and you don’t think that clearly,” Thompson said.
“It’s a busy period, so I wanted to make sure that when I went away from footy for a little time that I was making the right decision.”
As Thompson told a press conference this week that he was aware he had “let the club down by walking away,” Cook sat ashen-faced on one side of him while Costa was uncharacteristically sombre on the other.
Thompson continually looked to either of them for reassurance when talking about his time at the club and the pair nodded back in appreciation.
“You know in your heart when it’s time to give up,” Thompson said.
The two-time premiership coach refused to crush rumours he was headed to Windy Hill to assist rookie Essendon coach James Hird.
Cook said Thompson had given six weeks’ notice and was “pretty much a free man after that”.
“What I’m going to do tomorrow is sit down and reflect and see what I want to do next,” Thompson said.
“I really don’t know what I’m going to be doing – end of story.”
