ESSENDON coach Mark Thompson says he is not looking beyond his immediate future at Essendon and he is yet to speak to James Hird about how the exiled coach should handle his return to the club.

 

Thompson, whose Bombers came from behind to snatch a thrilling seven-point win against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday, said he had not decided what he would do in 2015.

 

With the Bombers moving a step closer to cementing a finals berth, he said his focus was on making sure 2014 was not a wasted year for the club.

 

"I don't even know what I'm doing Monday and Tuesday, [so] I'm not even going to attempt to look any further," he said on Sunday night.  

 

"The reason why all of us are here is because of our players. They don't want us to be a distraction, so it's not going to be.

 

"All I know is they didn't want it to be a gap year and it's not, we are still alive.

 

"We're a chance to play finals and we want to make sure that happens."

 

Thompson said he was yet to speak to Hird about his return to the club, with the banned coach due to touch down after a study trip in France later this month.

 

Banned for 12 months because of his role in the Bombers' supplements scandal, Hird is able to return to the club on August 25.

 

"We are not talking about it, and I have not even decided what I'm doing next year," Thompson said.  

 

"I can seriously tell you it's not about me.

 

"When he comes back from France we're going to talk. We haven't talked yet."