Not a bad rap in a superstar-filled team like the Cats’.
Mooney, 29, has kicked 22.22 from 11 games this year, and could manage just 2.3 in last year's grand final, a match which saw Geelong defeated despite going inside 50 a massive 62 times.
But Thompson told afl.com.au that Mooney's influence went far beyond the number of goals on the scoresheet.
"Oh, he's super important. He understands and is a leader of the forward line," Thompson said.
"He understands exactly what the coaches are trying to implement, and all our set-ups, and he's such a fantastic player.
"He's almost the most important player that we couldn't afford to lose."
Thompson said the 195cm, 99kg Mooney was a precious commodity at Corio.
"Yeah, I love him," Thompson said with a laugh.
"The fact that he misses goals worries me, but it doesn't worry me as much as it worries everybody else.
"He's kicked 22.22 or something, and he's had a really good year.
"He's not only really important to our structure, but he helps set up goals, and he kicks then himself."
Thompson said he wasn't worried by media criticism of Mooney's inaccuracy.
He dismissed the concerns, saying it was just a way for people to have a crack at a top side.
"Now, if you're going to kick the most goals in the competition – and we have for the last three years – you're going to kick almost the most points as well.
"People are looking for ways to criticise or look for little weaknesses in Geelong, and we think that's a pretty soft target, because we'll be okay at it."
Mooney's ability to create a contest and be a strong target forward was crucial in bringing others into the game, Thompson said.
"I think if you look over the recent Geelong history of goalscoring, we have a lot of goalscorers.
"We don't mind who scores them, as long as we score a lot of them.
"Moons and Tom (Hawkins) – who's only young – if they chip in for one for two goals a week, they're probably doing their job.
"We've got to have smalls kicking goals, otherwise they feel like they're not doing their job either."
