Mark ‘Bomber’ Thompson ‘determined’ to get on the right path, says Hird
Related Story: AFL world reels over Mark 'Bomber' Thompson drugs chargesRelated Story: Ex-AFL coach 'Bomber' Thompson charged with drug trafficking
Mark 'Bomber' Thompson, the former AFL champion and premiership-winning coach, is determined to get himself on the right path and turn his life around, former Essendon coach and player James Hird said.
Thompson, 54, was arrested and charged with drugs offences on Tuesday, almost five months after police executed a warrant at his Port Melbourne home.
Melbourne Magistrates' Court heard that a range of drugs, including ecstasy, methyl amphetamine, an LSD tab, ephedrine and multiple Xanax tablets were found in a locked bedroom and loft study area inside the house.
Thompson has been charged with two counts of trafficking ecstasy and trafficking methyl amphetamine and was granted bail on a $20,000 surety.
He is due to return to court on May 25.
Speaking in a podcast, Hird, who coached with Thompson at Essendon during the 2013 supplement saga, said the circumstances of his arrest were "unbelievable" and "extremely sad".
He spoke to Thompson on Wednesday after he heard about the charges.
"I think from Bomber's point of view there's only one person who can turn his life around," he said.
"A lot of people are there to help him and he does need help but he actually needs to take some responsibility himself and get himself right.
"I saw a man who is pretty determined to get on the right path."
Hird said a lot of people thought Thompson had a "problem" but no-one thought it was more than a personal issue.
No 'support' from club
The AFL charged Thompson and Hird along with football manager Danny Corcoran and club doctor Bruce Reid with bringing the game into disrepute during the club's disastrous supplements program which saw 34 players suspended by anti-doping authorities.
Thompson was fined $30,000 for his role in the affair which Hird said left him "scarred".
The ASADA scandal was a tipping point for both of them, Hird said, and had stripped them of their identities, but he thought Thompson had "come out the other side".
Hird said he could not "overexaggerate" what a terrible time that was and he said they had no support from the club.
"My issues have been well documented," Hird said.
"The people within the club … were not about supporting emotionally the people going through those times," he said.
The club had a huge turn-over in staff with the president and three chief executives leaving after the scandal.
"It really was us, myself, Bomber, Danny Corocoran, Bruce Reid some other staff and the players and we were looking after each other. We weren't equipped to deal with it," he said.
After appearing in court, Thompson said he was sorry his supporters had to "put up with" him "but hopefully we'll get through it".
Before winning two flags as a coach at Geelong, Thompson played 202 games for the Bombers, captaining the club and winning three premierships.
Thompson initially went to Essendon as Hird's assistant but he took over the senior role for one season in 2014 while Hird served an AFL-imposed ban, and left the club at the end of that year.
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