MARK Thompson will continue to change the way Essendon play this season for two reasons: firstly to avoid repeating a recent history of fade-outs, and secondly because, as a coach with a one-year contract, he can.
Fresh from the Bombers' 81-point win over Carlton on Sunday night at the MCG, Thompson said things had changed at Essendon this year as the club looked to alleviate the chances of another end-of-season capitulation.
It started in the summer, where he said they trained longer and as a consequence, "didn't even look like we could play football in the pre-season stuff because we were training really solidly".
And it's already paying dividends with Thompson proud of the way they're "actually sacrificing themselves better than they've done before".
"We're going to play people and keep changing the team up and we're going to try and play a style of game that doesn't exert as much energy," Thompson said afterwards.
"You manage your running in games and on the field and hopefully that works."
Former Geelong captain Tom Harley, who was coached to two premierships by Thompson, suggested on the Seven Network the Bombers were being coached better this year.
Thompson jovially dismissed Harley's comments but conceded his situation allowed him to experiment more than other coaches could.
"I can't respond to that, apart from saying 'Tommy, you silly bugger, what did you do that for?" he said.
"It doesn't matter how I coach - I'm coach for this year, I'm enjoying it.
"I'm doing things that probably a coach who wants to have a career for a long time can't do because I'm just having a go.
"I'm just playing young people and doing different things. I'm doing exactly what I want.
"It would be nice for them to have some success, it's the reason I'm doing it, so let's do it well."
With Jake Carlisle needed to start in the ruck and Joe Daniher required for support, the Bombers' forward line included Brendon Goddard, David Zaharakis and Jason Winderlich in his first game for the year.
Thompson said he would have preferred more talls – which he could get next week with Paddy Ryder a chance to return from an ankle injury – but was pleased the change worked.
"It kicked a lot of goals tonight. What we did tonight was put people in there who could win the ball," he said.
"Goddard was a good call. I don't know whose idea it was. … it was mine. Nah, I'm not sure who's it was. He marked the ball early and looked strong.
"It was good to put people there and it worked. The plan worked tonight but it wouldn't work every week, I don't think."
He said the return of Winderlich was important and hoped the 29-year-old had finally learned how best to manage his body that has been hindered by back and hamstring problems.
"All the quick blokes I know - and Chappy's the same - a lot of them, they just like to play fast," he said.
"Then when they feel good, they just try to go faster and do more.
"It wouldn't matter if it was the 29-minute mark of the last quarter, they'll still try to mark that ball that's out of their reach, by running fast, and then they tear - and 'Licka' has done that.
"We need to manage him [and] he needs to manage himself. If he got smart by the time he's 30 ... it would be nice.
"It's about time he did get smart, because we need him out on the ground."
