Mark Thompson tells Paul Chapman he could win a premiership at Essendon
ESSENDON coach Mark Thompson has told Paul Chapman the Bombers can contend next year.
Essendon
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ESSENDON coach Mark Thompson has told Paul Chapman the Bombers can contend next year.
The Cats triple premiership hero said he was excited to be back with his former Geelong coach Thompson.
“Bomber (Thompson) said he sees Essendon not too far off where Geelong was when the Cats were ready to go,” said Chapman, at a new club after 14 years and 251 games at Geelong.
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“A comment like that makes me very excited about the next stage of my career.
“I’m looking forward to meeting with the players, playing hard with the boys and achieving something great.
“People say I have a lot to prove to Essendon but the way I see it is they made a good decision. I have some good football left in me.
“And the way I feel is I can play for 2-3 years still. I feel like I did all those years ago at Geelong.”
After a tumultuous season in 2006 where Thompson was nearly sacked, the Cats went on to win the 2007 flag in a record margin over Port Adelaide.
They went on to win two more premierships over the next four seasons to lay claim to being one of the greatest teams in history.
Chapman, 31, was yesterday presented with the No.3 guernsey worn by club legends Dick Reynolds and Paul Salmon after a tour of the Bombers’ new headquarters at Tullamarine.
After being delisted by the Cats, despite a match-winning performance in his last game against Port Adelaide, the 2009 Norm Smith Medallist received offers from Essendon and Carlton.
He said the Bombers were the right fit.
“They are a good team. Even in 2013 with the (supplements investigation) hanging over their head they were still playing for top spot in Round 17.
"And to be playing under Bomber is good for me because we have always had a good working relationship.
“I have joined a great club with great supporters and I’m very, very happy.”
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