Face of Nation : AFL great Mark ‘Bomber’ Thompson admits using drugs after his career ended but denies being a dealer.
The 55-year-old is fighting drug trafficking and possession charges after a raid on his Port Melbourne home last year.
The fallen legend told Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday he was smoking up to a gram of ice per week and spending 12 hours a day trading or learning about cryptocurrency at his home in 2017.
“I’m a drug taker and I’m sad that I’m a drug taker … I took drugs back then to mask all the pain,” he said.
It was embarrassing to be labelled a drug trafficker but he never had any intention to sell drugs, he told the court.
“To be here right now it’s pretty soul crushing really,” he said. “I’m totally embarrassed about being here … I’m sorry.”
The former Essendon premiership captain and coach said using ice had become a habit and he was smoking it several times a week.
He also admitted wanting to try LSD after reading a book by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs but “didn’t have the guts”.
Thompson’s drug use ramped up once he let Thomas Windsor, a man with alleged bikie links, live with him in December 2017.
The pair only met when Windsor knocked on the former premiership player’s door three months earlier.
“I was happy to open the door and talk to someone,” Thompson said.
Despite the heavily tattooed, muscled and bald Windsor showing up unannounced, Thompson allowed him inside.
“Yeah … it’s weird, hey?” he told the court.
The friendship continued and the pair smoked ice together. But Thompson claims he became scared of Windsor, who has since been jailed for drug trafficking after being arrested during the raid on the ex-footballer’s home.
Thompson also linked his struggles to Essendon’s supplements scandal, which rocked the club and league.
“Everything I believed in with this industry … it was just in ruins,” he said of the scandal.
“I hated the game, so I left the game.”
A lockbox containing ice, Xanax and an LSD tablet were allegedly found at Thompson’s home in January last year, along with equipment including scales. He admitted owning the scales and using them to make sure he got the quantity of drugs he had paid for.
“I used to weigh stuff up,” he said “What you paid for is what you got.”
Up to 481 MDA pills were also found in a clear bag on a shelf in a locked cupboard connected to Thompson’s bedroom, police allege.
Forensic expert Janette Psaroudis earlier told the court she tested small plastic bags and cigarette butts taken from the property.
DNA from the items was 100 billion times more likely to belong to Thompson than anyone else.
The former star footballer played in three flags with Essendon and later coached Geelong to two premierships.
He was supported in court by family.
The hearing continues.
