Hird, the new Essendon coach, with Thompson, the former Geelong coach, and Robson, the CEO who helped bring them back together at Essendon, all sitting behind a table full of microphones and dictaphones.
That media event was decidedly uncomfortable. Journalists took their chance to ask Thompson whether he deceived anyone, whether he owed Geelong an apology.
The questions were inevitable, but they were nonetheless difficult to answer in front of an audience of more than 50 in Essendon's Hall of Fame building.
On Wednesday, Thompson had another turn in the hot seat, but there was clearly a different vibe about this press conference compared to the last one.
This was not about looking ahead at potential roles, or hypothesising about season 2011, or defending Thompson's, and the club's, morals.
Six months into the job and seven weeks into the season, this was a chance for Thompson to reflect on his time back at the club. It was also a chance to discuss how he's "really enjoying" not being a senior coach. His relaxed style emphasised that point.
"I'm loving it. It's really rewarding because we're getting some good results, we're improving players, we're playing some decent football and having a lot of fun," he said.
It seemed obvious Thompson is enjoying his role, enjoying partnering his 1993 premiership teammate in the coaches' box.
According to Thompson, it's Hird's ability to communicate on match-day, as well as his calm head, which has helped him so far, and which will lead him to be "a fantastic coach."
Apart from literally taking a backward step in the box - Hird is generally sided by line assistants Sean Wellman, Brendan McCartney or Simon Goodwin, with Thompson usually at the back - Thompson has been involved in other areas as an overseer of the operations of the football department.
But, as one reporter asked, what does he actually do?
"I'm not so sure myself!" he laughed. "I'm just in the background, helping set up the program, being a mentor for some of the new coaches and getting around to the players during the matches, trying to fix little problems players might have. (It's) just a general sort of role."
Put specifically, the "general" type of role is built on teaching and mentoring. Not only of the coaches, but of the Essendon players, too.
"I think that's the best part about being involved in AFL footy once you're not a player: to help other players be good players. It's something I've always enjoyed," he said.
That was obvious at three-quarter time in Sunday's win over West Coast, when Thompson pulled Essendon captain Jobe Watson aside after the Bombers kicked six goals to the Eagles' none for the term.
He told Watson that it was "exactly" what the team needed. Thompson said such a response to a lacklustre first half was built on a resilience which had to continue for the rest of the game, the rest of the month and the rest of the year.
He told Watson that that standard shouldn't slip, to drive his teammates to be "absolutely ruthless" in the last quarter against the Eagles. "He's a great leader," Thompson said of the 26-year-old.
However, that might have said more about Thompson's role at the club than Watson's level of leadership. It would seem Thompson is at Essendon to help set that new standard, and build and integrate a new football program which creates a winning team and attitude.
A program that is not dependent on individuals or personnel but instead driven by application and work ethic and one which produces an uncompromising club, on and off the field.
That, Thompson says, hasn't been achieved yet, and four and a half wins after seven games would suggest the Bombers have room for improvement, but it's a work in (seemingly) rapid progress.
"I wouldn't say definitely that we're anywhere near where we want to end up, but we're working towards that. We're starting to play the way we train," he said.
Later, after the press conference, Thompson was the first out on the Windy Hill ground, before any players and coaches, inspecting the oval and checking the conditions.
He did the same last week before the club's main training session.
But today, more than any day before, it became a lot clearer that his role is significantly more substantial, and influential in Essendon's rebuild, than just that.
Callum Twomey covers Essendon news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter at @Cal_Twomey
