What can possibly have changed so much in such a short time? Little in practical terms. But in terms of perception, plenty. The popular view of Thompson when Essendon's season finished at the hands of North Melbourne was of a jocular, slightly eccentric man who'd achieved highly respectable results standing in for Hird, as well as providing his share of off-field entertainment courtesy of his performances at post-match press conferences this year. But since then, and particularly since the night of Essendon's best and fairest count on October 1, the impression spread throughout the football world has been entirely different. The same phrases keep being used: "erratic" and "unpredictable" two of the more popular descriptions. There have been continued whispers about Thompson's behaviour. And there is no question that the insidious football grapevine has been damaging. Even the strongest supporters of the three-time Essendon premiership player have been concerned by the extent of the mutterings about his conduct in recent weeks. How quickly the landscape has changed.

On the night of the Crichton Medal it seemed Essendon was determined to wash its hands of Hird given his decision to go against the club's wishes and appeal the ruling on the ASADA investigation. It also seemed that the club would not only move to secure Thompson for 2015 but do so quickly before it was beaten to the punch by an eager suitor in Gold Coast. That the Suns' interest cooled rapidly would be an understatement. That the same club is now courting another experienced coach in Rodney Eade who, despite an imposing record, can't match Thompson's two premiership medallions with Geelong – makes the about-face even more puzzling. Thompson's name has barely rated a mention in relation to the vacant Western Bulldogs' position, either. While he's clearly the most credentialed of the various names being thrown about to replace Brendan McCartney, it is contenders previously untried at senior level such as Brett Montgomery, Leigh Tudor and Brendon Bolton who are considered far more likely. Conspiracy theorists believe there are some murky waters surrounding those two clubs' apparent lack of interest. They believe the AFL – not thrilled by Hird being replaced by another man sanctioned for his role in the Essendon supplements saga – hasn't been backward in coming forward to vocalise its misgivings.

And it's far easier not to take the advice from the game's headquarters on board when you're a direct creation of that administration still in your infancy, or a club relying heavily on AFL money and goodwill. That said, Thompson's often contradictory actions haven't helped his own cause. A year ago, it was about the possibility of taking over from Hird to begin with. And lately, about continuing in the role. Plenty of mixed messages. On the night of the best and fairest, too. Popular reports of that evening described a strident speech and bold job application from Thompson, and a crowd chanting his name. Those present (and I was) would recall more a rambling dialogue and a puzzled audience that began audibly begging him to offer some idea of his intentions. Even then, his analogy about an AFL player sent back to the VFL seemed as likely a stream of consciousness as a calculated pitch for Hird's job. That now seems to have been Thompson's last hurrah as a key player in the football world after more than 30 years unbroken service and a CV as a player and coach that stands among the best. It reads five premierships, seven grand finals, two best and fairests, three All-Australian gongs and no fewer than 485 games.

That's some legacy, one that deserves a lot more kudos than it has ever received. And regardless of the circumstances, it's sad indeed that it is a contribution that seems to be ending with far more of a whimper than a bang.