GEELONG looks set to extend premiership coach Mark Thompson's contract, despite this year's grand final loss a couple of months ago.

The Cats were clearly the best team throughout the regular season, but fell at the last hurdle to a desperate and driven Hawthorn.

Thompson has a deal that takes him through until the end of 2009, but with several coaches also coming out of contract then, the Cats want to lock him away from the grasping hands of other clubs.

CEO Brian Cook has already had talks with Thompson's manager, and is hoping to be able to announce an early Christmas present for Geelong fans.

"I have had my first discussion with Michael Quinlan recently, and Michael will talk to Mark in the near future," Cook told the Herald Sun.

"He has been fantastic. He got back from overseas on the weekend, so it's business as usual from this week on."

The grand final loss had not changed Geelong’s opinion of Thompson, Cook said.

"You do assess. There is no doubt, but it's not as though the grand final has made us reassess our plans.

"The direction we are heading in now is the one we chose before the grand final."