ESSENDON top-up and former Geelong star James Kelly is uncertain whether he will play on in 2017 but he is considering another season at AFL level.

Kelly, 32, said he did not know if Essendon wanted him to continue, but he was more open to the prospect of another year than he had been at the start of the season.

"It's a lot more attractive than it has been previously, I guess, earlier in the year but at this stage I still don't know," Kelly said.

"I still have haven't had a proper chat with Woosha (coach John Worsfold) about it but we'll get through this week and we'll sit down and have a coffee next week and see where we are at."

Kelly, a Geelong premiership player, joined Essendon on a short-term contract at the start of this year after 34 past and present players were suspended in January.

He was delisted by Geelong, along with Mathew Stokes and Steve Johnson, at the end of 2014.

He said he sympathised with the four North Melbourne veterans who were told this week that they would not be offered a contract for next season.

He went through a very similar experience when he finished up at the Cats after 273 games and three premierships.

However, he said he was able to get his head around retirement as he knew from about round 14 that it would be his last season at Geelong.

Kelly said the future was bright for Essendon and the team could push for a finals spot in 2017 when its suspended players return to action.

He told Melbourne radio station SEN on Friday it was impossible to predict how long it would take for Essendon to find its mojo when its experienced stars returned, but believed the Bombers could return to contention quickly.

"They are certainly capable on paper," Kelly said.

"There are going to be some challenges but certainly they should be pushing the top six or eight."