Bomber Thompson ex-wife speaks of concern as he’s caught up in drug-trafficking sting

THE ex-wife of troubled footy great Mark Thompson has raised her fears for the former coach and player, adding the silliest thing he ever did was leave Geelong.

FAMILY and friends of troubled footy great Mark Thompson have raised concerns for his wellbeing.

Thompson’s former wife, Jana Clack, has spoken of his downward spiral before Friday’s raid on his Port Melbourne home and his subsequent police interview yesterday.

“I just feel for his kids and his parents,’’ she said.

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Ms Clack, who married the former Essendon star and Geelong premiership coach in 2012, said she was worried about Thompson in the wake of the police probe.

“It’s not what you want to hear,’’ she said. “I just hope he’s OK. I’ll just wait and see how it pans out.’’

Mark Thompson with former wife Jana Clack.

The couple in 2014. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis.

Ms Clack said life had been hard for Thompson in the wake of the long-running Essendon supplements scandal.

“It’s just never-ending,’’ she said.

“The silliest thing he ever did was leaving Geelong.

“It’s all gone downhill from there ... it’s been one thing after another.

“But he’s got to sort his own s--- out himself.’’

Ms Clack, who married Thompson in an Echuca wedding attended by the likes of James Hird and former Cats players Matthew Scarlett and Cameron Mooney, said he made contact with family after Friday’s raid.

She told the Herald Sun the impact of the 2012 supplements scandal took a heavy toll on Thompson, 54, including the breakdown of their marriage.

“He withdrew from everyone,’’ she said.

“He as far as I know he just started seeing his family again.’’

She described her dealings with the triple Essendon premiership star as “very few and far between’’ since their separation about 2½ years ago.

“I don’t know what he’s been up to for the past 2½ years,’’ she said.

“I don’t know who he has been hanging around with.

“I hope he hasn’t been silly.’’

Mark Thompson as coach of Essendon. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Gary O’Donnell, who played with Thompson in the Bombers’ 1993 flag, said he last saw him late last season.

“He was fine — Bomber being Bomber,’’ he said.

“I know Bomber the player and he was exemplary — a ­really great player’s captain.’’

But former Geelong president Frank Costa said he noticed a change in Thompson in 2010 after his first marriage broke down and he was secretly approached by Essendon.

“A couple of things happened that affected Mark’s mental state,” Costa said.

“First thing that happened, he left his wife. His children wouldn’t talk to him — he’s got three children. So things were pretty tough on him mentally.

“At the same time, he’d been approached by Essendon under the table to come and join Essendon and come and help James Hird in coaching the club.’’

Costa said the AFL’s $30,000 fine for bringing the game into disrepute was “terribly unfair on him’’.

“And that put him into a more agitated state of mind than what it otherwise would have been,’’ he said.

“I think a combination of all those things brought him into a state of mental anxiety that has been very detrimental to him overall.’’