Mark Thompson reunited with treasured item

A REMARKABLE act of kindness has seen Mark Thompson reunited with a treasured AFL premiership item.

Mark Hardy with Mark "Bomber" Thompson's 1984 Essendon premiership jumper.

MARK Thompson admits times were tough during the Essendon supplement scandal and that he hit rock bottom.

But a stunning act of kindness has the Bombers’ legend smiling again, something he says has restored his faith in humanity.

Showing the type of character that Thompson truly is, despite his at-times perceived hard edge as a coach, the former Essendon player gifted his 1984 premiership winning guernsey to a sick fan.

Michael Lawson was an Essendon tragic battling luekemia when Thompson signed the guernsey and sent it off to the Essendom diehard.

Sadly Lawson passed away on April 4 1990, and Thompson thought the guernsey was lost.

“It’s probably a strange thing to do looking at it now,” Thompson recalled on AFL 360.

“At the time I just felt anyway I could help that young man and put a smile on his face and I think it did.”

Michael Hardy and Essendon footballer Tim Watson in hospital in 1988.

Mark Hardy, stepbrother of Lawson found the guernsey when going through a wardrobe and decided to hand it back to the Essendon legend.

Hardy told AFL 360 he had recently heard Thompson discuss the trying times he faced while Essendon was embroiled in the ASADA supplements scandal that saw most of the club’s playing list suspended for 12 months.

He hoped returning the treasured item would lift Thompson’s spirits, just as the guernsey had his stepbrother.

“I always knew there was a jumper for Mark, but we never realised it was his grand final one,” Hardy said.

“We recently went through the wardrobe and I read the message and realised it was (a premiership jumper). He gave Mark happiness when there wasn’t any happiness in his life, it was a very nice moving thing to do to get nothing in return.

“It triggered in my head to give it back and give it back to Bomber (Thompson).

“It is difficult, but Mark played for it, he earned it and my brother died for it and I found it basically. It’s not mine to have. It will mean a lot more to Bomber than it ever means to me.

“It was Michael’s and it made him happy when he needed it. Wherever he takes it my brother will be with him. That’s all it’s about. He’s done a good deed and I want to do a good deed in return.”

Mark “Bomber” Thompson.

Thomspon was visibly emotional when presented with the returned guernsey and admitted the act has restored his faith in people.

“For these great people who find it by chance and give it back, that’s humanity isn’t it, the gift of giving and helping,” Thompson said.

“That’s football — that’s what it’s based around.

“I never really thought about it that much. I thought it was gone. To get it back now after it’s been lent out for 30-odd years, it makes it probably a little more special.”

While Thompson admitted he was not one to display memorabilia of his exploits in his home, it will be hard not to proudly display the returned premiership jumper, especially given the sentiment attached.

“I don’t have anything up except for the five premierships I’ve been involved in. That’s the little cups that you get and the trophies you used to get from the AFL — that’s it,” Thompson revealed.

“I’m not one to really put it up on a wall and people say ‘that’s how good you were’.”

@AFL360 @Robbo_heraldsun wow Bomber getting that jumper back was an amazing moment tears for sure! Great gesture by Mark and the family

— Ian Hopper (@ijhopper) May 3, 2017

Originally published as Mark Thompson reunited with treasured item