Armstrong Creek land investment pays off for ‘Bomber’ Thompson

ESSENDON legend Mark “Bomber” Thompson has hit a $7 million property development jackpot after years of stalled negotiations over the sale of a sheep farm near Geelong.

Essendon legend Mark “Bomber” Thompson has hit a $7 million property development jackpot.

ESSENDON legend Mark “Bomber” Thompson has hit a $7 million property development jackpot.

Thompson and Bombers list manager Adrian Dodoro struck it rich on Friday after years of stalled negotiations over the sale of a sheep farm near Geelong.

The duo each paid $394,000 for a quarter share of the 16ha property at Armstrong Creek, between Geelong and Torquay, in 2005.

Property developer and former Essendonians coterie club president Mark Casey controlled the other 51 per cent which officially sold for $37 million last week.

Casey picked up a $14 million profit, while Thompson and Dodoro walked away with $6.92 million each.

The land was bought by former Essendon player Andrew Welsh and his father, who will develop the Armstrong Creek commercial hub.

MARK THOMPSON TAKES AIM AT AFL OVER BOMBERS SUPPLEMENT SAGA

Mark Thompson and the land to be developed at Armstrong Creek.

Casey, the brother of former Richmond president Clinton Casey, said he texted Thompson and Dodoro on Friday morning to break the news.

“Eleven years ago, I saw an opportunity to develop at Armstrong Creek,” the Casey Capital managing director said.

“I’d been speaking to Bomber and Adrian about investing in one of the farms I’d ­purchased. They put in about $400,000 each and it received approval to become the retail centre of the town.

“We intended to develop it ourselves, but the financial crisis hit, so we retained a small portion and sold the balance.”

Mark " Bomber " Thompson has hit a $7 million property development jackpot. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

The bumper deal went through on Friday with a celebratory lunch booked for this week at Crown.

“It’s always exciting when people have the belief in you to invest and then you pull it off,” Casey said.

Thompson played 202 games for Essendon between 1983 and 1996 and coached Geelong to two premierships in 2007 and 2009.

He shifted back to his beloved Bombers as a senior assistant coach under James Hird in late 2010 before becoming embroiled in the supplements scandal.

“He’s had to put up with a lot crap over the last four years and hopefully this will give him a fresh start to pursue other interests,” Casey said.

[e-mail]