any sources kojak?

He might as well say "yes, impeccable" and it'd have just as much credence as any others...

Melbourne has contacted Bomber Thompson for the top job post Paul Roos.

And they are very bullish at the chances of acquiring him if James Hird resumes coaching at the Bombers next year.

My source has an impeccable record on information thus far.

Make of it what you will.

I've heard it's Goodwin in the mix. But have nothing more concrete than that

The hopeful plan is to have him work alongside Roos next year and take over the top job in 2016 and beyond. Roos to fulfill his 2 year contract and move on.

Not to doubt your source or cast any doubt over what you say, but if this is the case then we've been sold a crock of shite by Roos, PJ and co...

Paul Roos was to come here identify a current assistant coach that he could train up and mentor for this coach to then be ready to hand the reins to as a succession plan.

How the heck is Mark Thompson that person? Roos was to identify a coach in waiting, not a senior coach that has almost as good a record as the man himself!!

It would be like getting Clarkson or Malthouse to work as an understudy to Roos...

Not to doubt your source or cast any doubt over what you say, but if this is the case then we've been sold a crock of shite by Roos, PJ and co...

Paul Roos was to come here identify a current assistant coach that he could train up and mentor for this coach to then be ready to hand the reins to as a succession plan.

How the heck is Mark Thompson that person? Roos was to identify a coach in waiting, not a senior coach that has almost as good a record as the man himself!!

It would be like getting Clarkson or Malthouse to work as an understudy to Roos...

The job is too large for an untried coach. I think Roos now realizes this is going to be LONG Job.

Looking at 360 you can see they have been talking off camera.

Not to doubt your source or cast any doubt over what you say, but if this is the case then we've been sold a crock of shite by Roos, PJ and co...

Paul Roos was to come here identify a current assistant coach that he could train up and mentor for this coach to then be ready to hand the reins to as a succession plan.

How the heck is Mark Thompson that person? Roos was to identify a coach in waiting, not a senior coach that has almost as good a record as the man himself!!

It would be like getting Clarkson or Malthouse to work as an understudy to Roos...

Wouldn't hurt Mick, wouldn't happen, but Roos is a LONG way ahead of Malthouse.

I don't rate Malthouse as a coach.

Edited for accuracy.

If Essendon sacks Hird now, he has no reason not to unleash.

Stringing it out til the end of the season does what Essendon wants: shuts the Hirds up for now.

They'll deal with it when they have to, once Bomba has proved himself a superior option, and when there aren't memberships to sell.

you have a point, but if hird is sacked at any stage in the near future, he can decide to unleash and I'm sure the case could reopen.

I dont recall if the tanking investigation had closed, but it sure did get a revamp when brock decided to speak his mind.

but you right, now would be worse than at than toward the end of the season.

The job is too large for an untried coach. I think Roos now realizes this is going to be LONG Job.

Looking at 360 you can see they have been talking off camera.

I agree, the job is too large for an untried coach.

i think the club and roos maybe reassessing the original plan. this plan has to be bullet proof - otherwise its potentially the end of this club.

if an opportunity to do something like that came up, i certainly wouldn't pass it up.

I agree, the job is too large for an untried coach.

i think the club and roos maybe reassessing the original plan. this plan has to be bullet proof - otherwise its potentially the end of this club.

if an opportunity to do something like that came up, i certainly wouldn't pass it up.

Bomba wouldn't be there as an understudy. If this situation happens the MFC would have 2 senior coaches next year.

The only reason i say it is that i have NEVER seen 2 opposing senior coaches talk like that on national TV.

Bomba was almost giving advice.

I would be horrified if the club hadn't at least been in contact with Bomber, though we do have a record of .....

As for us being sold a bunch of dung, don't buy that myself, they made a play for Stewart Dew, they are on the lookout but at the same time, if you could bring in a two time premiership coach to work alongside Roos, who helps Roos through the dark days of the rebuilding of the whole club and then take over and continue the good work. They would be mental not to explore the prospect.

Things change and if we were to ignore the possibility of Bomber due to the fact it is different than what was planned, well then we would be a club that is run no differently than in recent times

I love the idea of Roos and Bomber, Roos is one of the very best defensive coaches of the modern era, and Geelong had a lovely to watch attacking flair to them, if we can pick the best parts of both we could be looking at a fantastic game style and a level of footy knowledge that would rival any other club.

if Bomber and Roos couldn't save us, we are beyond help

talking of (coach) succession from day one was always a crock of shyte

you'd just set yourself up for constant media attention and mischief

how would you pick an untried coach now as a successor for 3 years time

defies logic

I love the idea of Roos and Bomber, Roos is one of the very best defensive coaches of the modern era, and Geelong had a lovely to watch attacking flair to them, if we can pick the best parts of both we could be looking at a fantastic game style and a level of footy knowledge that would rival any other club.

if Bomber and Roos couldn't save us, we are beyond help

Unfortunately even then we would lose due to wild handpasses and dropped chest marks.

No, Malthouses problem seems more with the media and fans. He has traditionally had a good relationship with his players, seems to see everyone else as the enemy and views them with suspicion (maybe paranoia).

small minime syndrome

Bomber Thompson is Essendon.

Also, Thompson knows how long it takes to build a list.

MFC is only in it's early stages, Thompson wouldn't be looking to go the hard yards.

Why risk his legacy?

We need Roos to sign on, he is the bloke to get us out of this shambles.

Peter Jackson is also Essendon let's not forget. Maybe he's using that same persuasiveness that landed Roosy on Bomber?

Do PJ and Bomber have ties? I'd imagine they would have crossed paths in Jackson's early days as CEO/Thompson's last playing days.

Brett Kirk is still a good chance.

I'm interested in this rumour.

Hawks obviously rate Bruce

The job is too large for an untried coach. I think Roos now realizes this is going to be LONG Job.

Looking at 360 you can see they have been talking off camera.

I'm sure all coaches talk to each other. I know full well that the job is too large to hand over to an untried coach, but that is the whole point of the succession plan, it's to get an existing assistant who is capable of leading the team forward and have them come in as the senior assistant and work under Roos for a year before handing over the reins.

Sorry but Bomber isn't a senior assistant. He is a dual premiership coach FFS!

I am not against having bomber at the club, he could be a fantastic asset... the point I am making is that if the club is talking to bomber then in the space of a couple of weeks this club has done a back flip on the whole premise of 'succession' and the thing that apparently was the key factor in luring Roos to the MFC has been blown away in 120 minutes against WCE last week.

Also Roos was somewhat reluctant to come back, Bomber is no different. Said he had finished when @ Geelong, was reluctant to take over with Hirds suspension, yet now we are a chance of landing him 2 weeks into 2014.

what makes you think a cash starved club could afford roosy + bomba?

talking of (coach) succession from day one was always a crock of shyte

you'd just set yourself up for constant media attention and mischief

how would you pick an untried coach now as a successor for 3 years time

defies logic

And it is still a crock of [censored] DC. I cannot think of a more irrelevant discussion at the moment. We are dead in the water - next week must be our concern.

I'm sure all coaches talk to each other. I know full well that the job is too large to hand over to an untried coach, but that is the whole point of the succession plan, it's to get an existing assistant who is capable of leading the team forward and have them come in as the senior assistant and work under Roos for a year before handing over the reins.

Sorry but Bomber isn't a senior assistant. He is a dual premiership coach FFS!

I am not against having bomber at the club, he could be a fantastic asset... the point I am making is that if the club is talking to bomber then in the space of a couple of weeks this club has done a back flip on the whole premise of 'succession' and the thing that apparently was the key factor in luring Roos to the MFC has been blown away in 120 minutes against WCE last week.

Also Roos was somewhat reluctant to come back, Bomber is no different. Said he had finished when @ Geelong, was reluctant to take over with Hirds suspension, yet now we are a chance of landing him 2 weeks into 2014.

Who knows what will happen. But i still think Roos was taken back by how poor the performance was on sunday.

Handing the Top Job to an untried groomed assistant is a big call. I have always been wary of the idea from the start, but we are just observers.

I would also be amazed to see Bomber out of the game next year if James does return.

Bomber Thompson is Essendon.

must be why he spent 10 years at Geelong and won 2 flags

what makes you think a cash starved club could afford roosy + bomba?

desperation, i believe this is our last chance, we can't afford even an 80% chance of success, we get the best two coaches of the modern era and if we go down we know we couldn't be saved.

plus i reckon the AFL will help

Who knows what will happen. But i still think Roos was taken back by how poor the performance was on sunday.

Handing the Top Job to an untried groomed assistant is a big call. I have always been wary of the idea from the start, but we are just observers.

I would also be amazed to see Bomber out of the game next year if James does return.

I agree with your first couple of points, but Roos being taken back is a big leap to trying to handball the job off to Bomber which appears to be what the OP is suggesting is taking place

I am not sure with Bomber being around next year, I could easily see him pulling out of coaching again... would it be a shame? absolutely because I think he along with Roos, Lyon and Clarkson is one of the best coaches in the country. Half of the teams in the AFL would probably better off with him at the helm, but I don't know what motivates him...

Who knows what will happen. But i still think Roos was taken back by how poor the performance was on sunday.

Handing the Top Job to an untried groomed assistant is a big call. I have always been wary of the idea from the start, but we are just observers.

I would also be amazed to see Bomber out of the game next year if James does return.

Absolutely, what if they finish top 4 and give the flag a serious shake... Hird is gone

Absolutely, what if they finish top 4 and give the flag a serious shake... Hird is gone

A little OT, but only way Hird is gone will be is infraction notices get issued IMO.

They will not pay out his contract unless they prove he has breached it in some way.

Absolutely, what if they finish top 4 and give the flag a serious shake... Hird is gone

Yes i know. But the EFC for some reason want Hird back. Now it could be spin. But even Bomba has said he will only be there for one year, and did say he may coach elsewhere. If Hird does return in September it will be most interesting.