“Take a helmet,” Thompson quipped.
But the Cats coach, who for the second straight year had to tell one of his players they would miss out on playing in the season’s biggest match, has praised defender David Wojcinski for the way he handled the shattering news on Thursday.
Thompson said while breaking the news to the pacy 28-year-old was difficult, it was a job they simply “had to be done”.
Thompson said an Achilles injury had cost the speedster his chance at consecutive premierships.
“Fit and in good form he’s in our best 22, no doubt and everybody in the room and everybody who knows Geelong would know that,” Thompson said.
“Unfortunately he hasn’t had the year that he’d hoped for and he’s very, very unlucky.”
Wojcinski, while hurting, took part in Friday’s grand final parade after taking the news “as good as he could have”.
“He turned up today and he’s talked to all the boys and … he really desperately wants the club to win,” Thompson said.
“He’s a great Geelong person and as I said, he’s just very unlucky and we feel for him.
“But he knows the club is bigger than the individual … it’s not the part that he probably wants but he’s still part of the club.”
Skipper Tom Harley also said he had spoken with his fellow defender after hearing of his omission.
“I got in touch with him last night and again this morning,” Harley said.
“He’s pretty good about it. He does have the solace, if there is some, about playing last year [in a premiership].
“He’s an experienced guy, 27, 28 years old and a real part of the club and he’ll be part of training tonight and be around the boys for sure.”
Thompson said Wojcinski remained in contention as one of three emergencies although the unfortunate Cat would need something to go wrong in the Geelong camp to earn a call-up.
“We’re probably 90 per cent sure that it’ll be the team,” Thompson said when asked of the possibility of changes to the selected side.
“You leave the 10 per cent because you’ve got to leave some percentage because people can get sick overnight or [get] a tight back.
“But as far as all the boys coming up from last week’s game, we’re fine.”
